Transformation of Candida albicans by electroporation

Abstract

In contrast to a variety of other yeasts, Candida albicans has proved difficult to transform with high efficiency. Lithium acetate transformation is fast and simple but provides a very low efficiency of DNA transfer (50-100 transformants/microg DNA), while spheroplast transformation, although more efficient ( approximately 300 transformants/microg integrative DNA and 10(3)-10(4) transformants/microg replicative DNA), is complicated and time-consuming. In this study we applied various yeast transformation techniques to C. albicans and selected an electroporation procedure for further optimization. Transformation efficiencies of up to 300 transformants/microg were obtained for an integrative plasmid and up to 4500 transformants/microg for a CARS-carrying plasmid. This reasonably high transformation efficiency, combined with the ease and speed of electroporation in comparison to alternative techniques, make it the preferred method for transformation of C. albicans.