Preservation of Aquatic Environmental DNA Using Cationic Detergents

ABSTRACT Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis is a powerful tool for quantifying and assessing the diversity of organisms in the environment. Unfortunately, isolating eDNA from aquatic environments is challenging due to the difficulties associated with water collection, preservation of samples during t...

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Main Authors: Viresh Thamke, Yared H. Bezabhe, Jana Jass, Per‐Erik Olsson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-11-01
Series:Environmental DNA
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.70038
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author Viresh Thamke
Yared H. Bezabhe
Jana Jass
Per‐Erik Olsson
author_facet Viresh Thamke
Yared H. Bezabhe
Jana Jass
Per‐Erik Olsson
author_sort Viresh Thamke
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis is a powerful tool for quantifying and assessing the diversity of organisms in the environment. Unfortunately, isolating eDNA from aquatic environments is challenging due to the difficulties associated with water collection, preservation of samples during transportation, and onsite filtration. These processes are expensive and time‐consuming and can lead to eDNA degradation. These difficulties can be addressed by preserving eDNA in the collected water. In this study, we assessed the effect of short‐ and long‐term water storage using three different cationic surfactants on the half‐life of zebrafish (Danio rerio) mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in mesocosm water. The surfactants used were benzalkonium chloride (BAC), cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). We observed that CPC and CTAB treatment extended the half‐life of mtDNA by 3–5 times. Analysis by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) demonstrated a mtDNA retention rate of 17.6%, 26.3%, and 2.2% for CPC, CTAB, and BAC, respectively, compared to 0.1% in untreated water after 30 days. The preservation of mtDNA by cationic surfactants was attributed to their bactericidal and cytotoxic properties as well as their electrostatic interaction with DNA molecules, as observed by spectrofluorometric analysis and subsequent precipitation. Our results demonstrated an inexpensive and convenient method to protect eDNA in water and improve its extraction.
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spelling doaj-art-f15dae005f5748d0bd9b0f60c5b45e2f2025-01-29T05:11:50ZengWileyEnvironmental DNA2637-49432024-11-0166n/an/a10.1002/edn3.70038Preservation of Aquatic Environmental DNA Using Cationic DetergentsViresh Thamke0Yared H. Bezabhe1Jana Jass2Per‐Erik Olsson3School of Science and Technology, Center of Life Science Biology Örebro University Örebro SwedenSchool of Science and Technology, Center of Life Science Biology Örebro University Örebro SwedenSchool of Science and Technology, Center of Life Science Biology Örebro University Örebro SwedenSchool of Science and Technology, Center of Life Science Biology Örebro University Örebro SwedenABSTRACT Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis is a powerful tool for quantifying and assessing the diversity of organisms in the environment. Unfortunately, isolating eDNA from aquatic environments is challenging due to the difficulties associated with water collection, preservation of samples during transportation, and onsite filtration. These processes are expensive and time‐consuming and can lead to eDNA degradation. These difficulties can be addressed by preserving eDNA in the collected water. In this study, we assessed the effect of short‐ and long‐term water storage using three different cationic surfactants on the half‐life of zebrafish (Danio rerio) mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in mesocosm water. The surfactants used were benzalkonium chloride (BAC), cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). We observed that CPC and CTAB treatment extended the half‐life of mtDNA by 3–5 times. Analysis by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) demonstrated a mtDNA retention rate of 17.6%, 26.3%, and 2.2% for CPC, CTAB, and BAC, respectively, compared to 0.1% in untreated water after 30 days. The preservation of mtDNA by cationic surfactants was attributed to their bactericidal and cytotoxic properties as well as their electrostatic interaction with DNA molecules, as observed by spectrofluorometric analysis and subsequent precipitation. Our results demonstrated an inexpensive and convenient method to protect eDNA in water and improve its extraction.https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.70038ddPCRdecay rateeDNAhalf‐lifemtDNAqPCR
spellingShingle Viresh Thamke
Yared H. Bezabhe
Jana Jass
Per‐Erik Olsson
Preservation of Aquatic Environmental DNA Using Cationic Detergents
Environmental DNA
ddPCR
decay rate
eDNA
half‐life
mtDNA
qPCR
title Preservation of Aquatic Environmental DNA Using Cationic Detergents
title_full Preservation of Aquatic Environmental DNA Using Cationic Detergents
title_fullStr Preservation of Aquatic Environmental DNA Using Cationic Detergents
title_full_unstemmed Preservation of Aquatic Environmental DNA Using Cationic Detergents
title_short Preservation of Aquatic Environmental DNA Using Cationic Detergents
title_sort preservation of aquatic environmental dna using cationic detergents
topic ddPCR
decay rate
eDNA
half‐life
mtDNA
qPCR
url https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.70038
work_keys_str_mv AT vireshthamke preservationofaquaticenvironmentaldnausingcationicdetergents
AT yaredhbezabhe preservationofaquaticenvironmentaldnausingcationicdetergents
AT janajass preservationofaquaticenvironmentaldnausingcationicdetergents
AT pererikolsson preservationofaquaticenvironmentaldnausingcationicdetergents