Extraction of Total DNA and RNA from Marine Filter Samples and Generation of a Universal cDNA as Universal Template for Marker Gene Studies

Abstract

Microbial communities play an important role in marine ecosystem processes. Although the number of studies targeting marker genes such as the 16S rRNA gene has increased during the last years, the vast majority of marine diversity are rather unexplored. Moreover, most studies focused on the entire microbial community and thus do not assess the active fraction of the microbial community. Here, we describe a detailed protocol for the simultaneous extraction of DNA and RNA from marine water samples and the generation of cDNA from the isolated RNA that can be used as a universal template in various marker gene studies.

Keywords: Marker gene studies; Metagenomics; Metatranscriptomics; Microbial diversity; Microbial functions.