Heterogeneity of genome sizes within the genus Spiroplasma

Organisms belonging to the genus Spiroplasma are currently classified into 23 groups, 17 of which have been assigned species epithets. We determined the genome sizes of representatives of 20 groups by using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Each genome size was deduced from the mobility of linear nonrestricted DNA, as well as from the sum of the sizes of restriction fragments obtained after digestion with NotI, a restriction endonuclease with a limited number of restriction sites in spiroplasma DNA. The values which we obtained indicated that the genome sizes of members of the genus Spiroplasma range from 940 to 2,220 kbp.