A Fast and Inexpensive High-Throughput Protocol for Isolating High Molecular Weight Genomic DNA from Lichens

Isolating high molecular weight DNA as required for genomic library preparations and other applications is a challenging task. We optimized a glass-fiber column-based, high throughput DNA isolation protocol to yield comparatively large quantities of high molecular weight, pure DNA; cell lysis based on a CTAB buffer was followed by centrifugation to remove cell debris, binding to a glass-fiber membrane under high concentration of a chaotropic salt (guanidine hydrochloride), followed by two 70% ethanol washes and elution. This method was utilized successfully on several species of lichenized ascomycetes and on two non-lichenized basidiomycetes. Thus, while developed for lichens, the method is suitable for a range of fungal taxa.