[Chlamydomonas] CAPS marker for motility mutant

[Darron Luesse]

Hi All,

I've been using the Mitchell and Graziano (2006) exercises in my Cell 
and Molecular Biology course for a couple of years, and the students 
seem to get a lot out of them.  I was hoping to expand a bit this 
semester and include some DNA work with Chlamy as well.  I am looking 
for a restriction digestion marker I can use to identify one of the 
common motility mutants (I typically use pf1, pf3, pf14, pf18, or ida4 - 
but would be open to others).  I'd like the students to be able to PCR 
amplify a segment of DNA, and then digest with an enzyme that would cut 
either mutant or wild-type.

Do any of you have a mutant/primer set/enzyme combo that you could 
recommend?

Also, does anyone have a recommendation for a kit that they use to 
isolate Chlamy DNA?  I've looked into the cheap/easy protocols, but the 
lab space my class is in only has one fume hood for 20 students.  I have 
a feeling they'd get phenol all over the lab.

I'd appreciate any suggestions you could provide.  I'm a plant molecular 
biologist by trade and use Chlamydomonas as a teaching tool.  I'm still 
feeling my way around the wonderful world of Chlamy.

Thanks,
Darron Luesse

-- 
Darron R. Luesse Ph.D
Assistant Professor
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Department of Biological Sciences, Box 1651
Science Building 3326
Edwardsville, IL  62026
Phone:  (618) 650-2153
Fax:  (618) 650-3174
e-mail: dluesse from siue.edu
http://www.siue.edu/~dluesse