High frequency gene conversion among benomyl resistant transformants in the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae

FEMS Microbiol Lett. 1996 Aug 15;142(1):123-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1996.tb08418.x.

Abstract

Three different methods, (i) PEG, (ii) electroporation and (iii) biolistic, were employed to transform Metarhizium anisopliae using benomyl resistance as a selectable marker. Transformation frequencies and mitotic stability varied for each method, from 0.8 to 6.9 transformants micrograms-1 of DNA and 46%, respectively, by the PEG method; 1.3 to 1.8 transformants micrograms-1 of DNA and 67% by electroporation; and 32 to 201 transformants micrograms-1 of DNA and 90% by biolistic. We demonstrate by PCR that 60% of the transformants were generated by gene conversion.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Benomyl / pharmacology*
  • DNA Primers / genetics
  • DNA, Fungal / genetics
  • Drug Resistance, Microbial / genetics*
  • Electroporation
  • Fungicides, Industrial / pharmacology*
  • Gene Conversion*
  • Genetic Markers
  • Mitosporic Fungi / drug effects*
  • Mitosporic Fungi / genetics*
  • Mitosporic Fungi / pathogenicity
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Pest Control, Biological
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Transformation, Genetic*

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • DNA, Fungal
  • Fungicides, Industrial
  • Genetic Markers
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Benomyl