A Rapid, Simple and Reliable Method of Differentiating Brewing Yeast Strains Based on Dna Restriction Patterns

DNA was isolated from polyploid brewing ale and lager yeast strains using a simple and rapid procedure which was a modification of a previously described method of Seehaus et al.14 The isolated DNA was cut with a number of restriction enzymes and subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis. Significant differences in banding patterns were observed between a Saccharomyces cerevisiae ale strain DNA and Saccharomyces uvarum (carlsbergensis) lager strain DNA, particularly with the enzyme Hpal. Differences were also observed between the banding patterns of digests from two ale strains, and from two lager strains. Use of this technique with appropriate restriction enzymes should prove useful for the rapid differentiation of brewing yeast strains.