Development of an unmarked gene deletion system for the filamentous fungi Aspergillus niger and Talaromyces versatilis

Appl Environ Microbiol. 2014 Jun;80(11):3484-7. doi: 10.1128/AEM.00625-14. Epub 2014 Mar 28.

Abstract

In this article, we present a method to delete genes in filamentous fungi that allows recycling of the selection marker and is efficient in a nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ)-proficient strain. We exemplify the approach by deletion of the gene encoding the transcriptional regulator XlnR in the fungus Aspergillus niger. To show the efficiency and advantages of the method, we deleted 8 other genes and constructed a double mutant in this species. Moreover, we showed that the same principle also functions in a different genus of filamentous fungus (Talaromyces versatilis, basionym Penicillium funiculosum). This technique will increase the versatility of the toolboxes for genome manipulation of model and industrially relevant fungi.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aspergillus niger / genetics*
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics
  • Fungi / genetics*
  • Gene Deletion
  • Gene Knockout Techniques / methods*
  • Talaromyces / genetics*
  • Trans-Activators / genetics

Substances

  • Fungal Proteins
  • Trans-Activators
  • XlnR protein, Aspergillus