ARO4 gene – a new dominant selective marker for yeasts Candida famata (Candida flareri) and Hansenula polymorpha (Pichia angusta)

Abstract

ARO4 gene encodes the enzyme 3-deoxy-D-arabinoheptulosonate-7-phosphate (DAHP) synthase catalyses the first step in aromatic amino acid biosynthesis in prokaryotes, plants and fungi. Successful application of modified ARO4m gene encoding DAHP synthase insensitive to the feedback inhibition by tyrosine for selection of Candida famata and Hansenula polymorpha yeasts transformants resistant to the DL-4-fluoro-phenylalanine is described in this work. Integrative plasmid harboring the marker transformed both yeasts with frequency up to 50 transformants per μg of DNA.

Keywords

• dominant selective marker
• yeast
• candida famata
• hansenula polymorpha