Optimized integration of T-DNA in the taxol-producing fungus Pestalotiopsis malicola

Abstract

We previously reported a taxol-producing fungus Pestalotiopsis malicola. There, we described the transformation of the fungus mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens. T-DNA carrying the selection marker was transferred into the fungus and randomly integrated into the genome as shown by Southern blotting. Approximately 66% of the transformants obtained a single copy of T-DNA. Conditions of transformation were optimized. The method can be used for taxol-related genes searching and manipulation in P. malicola. This is the first report of T-DNA-mediated transformation in taxol-producing fungi.

Key words: T-DNA, random insertional mutagenesis, taxol, Pestalotiopsis.