PCR-RFLP Analysis of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) Region for Identification of 3 Clam Species

ABSTRACT Restriction site analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for the specific identification of 3 clam species: Ruditapes decussatus (grooved carpet shell), Venerupis pullastra (pullet carpet shell), and Ruditapes philippinarum (Japanese carpet shell). PCR amplification using primers based on nucleotide sequences of Mytilus ITS regions produced a fragment of 1195 bp in R. decussatus, 1074 bp in V. pullastra, and 1188 bp inR. philippinarum. Digestion of the PCR products with endonucleases HinfI and Rsa I, followed by agarose gel electrophoresis of the digested products, yielded specific restriction profiles that enabled direct visual identification of the species analyzed.