Chemotaxonomy of yeasts

Abstract

The present review deals with chemotaxonomic methods for yeasts. DNA base composition, which is expressed as molar percentages of guanine plus cytosine (G + C), is fitted for description of a new species and serves exclusionary functions. G + C content range among species within a genus is often 10% or less. Larger ranges may indicate an amalgam of genera. Typing and mapping of DNA may also be used for taxonomy. Strains showing 65% or greater relatedness after DNA-DNA hybridization may be considered members of the same species. With rRNA-DNA homology assessment, intrageneric relationships established are not usually meaningful, but intergeneric distances can be resolved. rRNA can be used for examining phylogenetic diversity of yeasts and alloenzyme variation to calculate genetic distances among large yeast populations. Furthermore, heterogeneity in coenzyme Q pattern, cytochrome spectra, composition of cell wall glucan, mannan, and chitin, and cellular fatty acids may serve chemotaxonomic purposes.