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Genetic transformation of a mycorrhizal fungus

  • Applied Genetics and Regulation
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Summary

Protoplasts of the ectomycorrhizal fungus, Laccaria laccata, were transformed at frequencies of 5–50 transformants/μg 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.

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Author notes

  1. Robert K. Dixon

    Present address: Environmental Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, 97333, Corvallis, OR, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany and Microbiology, Auburn University, 36849, Auburn, AL, USA

    Victoria Barrett & Paul A. Lemke

  2. School of Forestry and Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn University, 36849, Auburn, AL, USA

    Robert K. Dixon

Authors
  1. Victoria Barrett
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  2. Robert K. Dixon
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  3. Paul A. Lemke
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Barrett, V., Dixon, R.K. & Lemke, P.A. Genetic transformation of a mycorrhizal fungus. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 33, 313–316 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00164528

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00164528

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