Genetic transformation of a mycorrhizal fungus

Protoplasts of the ectomycorrhizal fungus, Laccaria laccata, were transformed at frequencies of 5-50 transformants/micrograms DNA. Transformation was based on positive selection for resistance to hygromycin B (HmB) using the Escherichia coli aminocyclitol phosphotransferase (aph) gene bracketed by a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inApplied microbiology and biotechnology Vol. 33; no. 3; pp. 313 - 316
Main Authors Barrett, V, Dixon, R.K, Lemke, P.A
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published 01.06.1990
Subjects
Basidiomycota
ectomycorrhizae
genetic transformation
hybridization
Laccaria laccata
protoplasts
symbiosis
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Summary:Protoplasts of the ectomycorrhizal fungus, Laccaria laccata, were transformed at frequencies of 5-50 transformants/micrograms DNA. Transformation was based on positive selection for resistance to hygromycin B (HmB) using the Escherichia coli aminocyclitol phosphotransferase (aph) gene bracketed by an Aspergillus nidulans glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gpd) promoter and the transcription terminator region of the A. nidulans tryptophan synthetase (trpC) gene. Southern blot hybridization revealed that HmB-resistant transformants of L. laccata have integrated vector sequences involving one or more recombination events. These results provide the first evidence for genetic transformation of a mycorrhizal fungus and further indicate the ability of promoter and termination signals of ascomycetous origin to function in a taxonomically unrelated basidiomycete. The potential to improve ectomycorrhizal symbiosis through transgenic manipulation of the fungal component can now be realized, provided specific genes beneficial to this symbiosis can be identified.
ISSN:0175-7598
1432-0614
DOI:10.1007/BF00164528