title: Nuclear transformation of Volvox carteri.
abstract: Stable nuclear transformation of Volvox carteri was achieved using the cloned V. carteri nitA+ gene (which encodes nitrate reductase) to complement a nitA- mutation. Following bombardment of mutant cells with plasmid-coated gold particles, putative transformants able to utilize nitrate as a nitrogen source were recovered with an efficiency of approximately 2.5 x 10(5). DNA analysis indicated that the plasmid integrated into the genome, often in multiple copies, at sites other than the nitA locus. Cotransformants were recovered with a frequency of 40-80% when cells were cobombarded with a selected and an unselected marker. Thus, V. carteri becomes one of the simplest multicellular organisms that is accessible to detailed molecular studies of genes regulating cellular differentiation and morphogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Genetik, Universität Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schiedlmeier
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Kirk
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gruber
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mages
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Kirk
mesh_terms: D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D005819:Genetic Markers; D050901:Nitrate Reductase; D009565:Nitrate Reductases / Q000235:genetics*; D010957:Plasmids; D014170:Transformation, Genetic
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D009565:Nitrate Reductases; D050901:Nitrate Reductase