[Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of Chaetomium globosum and its T-DNA insertional mutagenesis]

Abstract

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation is a routine method in the genetic transformation of a wide range of plant species, and so far, its application has been extended to the transformation of yeasts, fungi and even human cells. By using this transformation system, filamentous fungus Chaetomium globosum was successfully transformed with an efficiency of 60-180 transformants per 10(7) spores. PCR and Southern analysis showed that the T-DNA was integrated into the genome. Among of the examined transformants contained a single copy, and was stable through mitotic cell division. The transformation system mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens may prove to be a powerful tool for the filamentous fungi transformation and functional genomic study with its high transformation frequency, simplicity of T-DNA integration, and genetic stability of transformants.