Open AccessTransformation of Mucor miehei results in plasmid deletion and phenotypic instability
Author(s) -
Monfort Aurelia,
Cordero Laura,
Maicas Sergi,
Polaina Julio
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1016/s0378-1097(03)00421-x
Subject(s) - plasmid , transformation (genetics) , protoplast , biology , dna , phenotype , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , gene
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.