Characterization of a highly active promoter, PBbgpd, in Beauveria bassiana

Curr Microbiol. 2008 Aug;57(2):121-6. doi: 10.1007/s00284-008-9163-3. Epub 2008 Apr 29.

Abstract

The promoter of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gpd) gene from Aspergillus nidulans (PgpdA) is widely used to direct expression of target genes constitutively in fungi. However, in some species, a heterogeneous promoter is found to be of low efficiency. To obtain a high-efficiency promoter for transformation of Beauveria bassiana, an entomopathogenic fungus widely used as an mycoinsecticide, a glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene (Bbgpd) promoter, was cloned and characterized. Four deletion constructs (-2118, -1153, -726, and -354) of the 5'-upstream sequence of Bbgpd linked to a bar::gus fusion gene (phosphinothricin-resistance::beta-glucuronidase fused gene), which were used as selected marker gene and report gene, respectively, were generated. GUS activities of transgenic strains harboring -726, -1153, and -2118 deletion constructs were much stronger than that of the promoter of Aspergillus nidulans gpdA (PgpdA), with a twofold to threefold increase over that in the PgpdA construct. The -726 fragment was necessary to direct GUS expression in B. bassiana. No -354 transgenic progenies were obtained, possibly because it failed to initiate the transcription of bar::gus fusion gene. A remarkable increase of GUS activity was found between the -1153 and -726 constructs, indicating that some active transcriptional elements were located in this region. With a high expression level and relatively short sequence, PBbgpd can be used to drive target genes in B. bassiana transgenic research.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 5' Flanking Region
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Base Sequence
  • Beauveria / genetics*
  • Beauveria / metabolism
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics
  • Gene Expression*
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Glucuronidase / genetics
  • Glucuronidase / metabolism
  • Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases / genetics*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic*
  • Sequence Deletion

Substances

  • Fungal Proteins
  • Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases
  • Glucuronidase