Transformation of Mucor miehei results in plasmid deletion and phenotypic instability.
Mucor miehei transformants resistant to geneticin have been obtained by treatment of protoplasts with different plasmids and by Agrobacterium-mediated DNA transfer. All transformants exhibited a very unstable phenotype whose maintenance required continuous selective pressure. Molecular analysis of transformants showed that the plasmid DNA was extensively modified and maintained in very low amount. Our results indicate that M. miehei reluctance to transformation is due to different causes, including the coenocytic nature of its mycelium and the existence of specific mechanisms for the detection and elimination of foreign DNA.
Monfort
Aurelia
A
Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Apartado de Correos 73, E-46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.
Cordero
Laura
L
Maicas
Sergi
S
Polaina
Julio
J
D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics; D017353:Gene Deletion; D009089:Mucor / Q000235:genetics*; D025282:Mycelium / Q000502:physiology; D010641:Phenotype; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics*; D012231:Rhizobium / Q000235:genetics; D014170:Transformation, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*
D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases