Transformation of Aspergillus based on the hygromycin B resistance marker from Escherichia coli

A new, heterologous, dominant marker for selection of Aspergillus transformants is described. This marker is based on the Escherichia coli hygromycin B (HmB) phosphotransferase gene (hph). Expression of the hph gene is controlled by A. nidulans gpd and trpC expression signals. An Aspergillus transformation vector was constructed which contains this marker and confers HmB resistance to Aspergillus species. With both A. niger and A. nidulans, transformation frequencies of 5-20 transformants per micrograms vector DNA were obtained. Cotransformation with other vectors was shown to be very efficient in both species, when selection for HmB resistance was applied.     

Expression of hygromycin phosphotransferase alters virulence of Histoplasma capsulatum

The Escherichia coli hygromycin phosphotransferase (hph) gene, which confers hygromycin resistance, is commonly used as a dominant selectable marker in genetically modified bacteria, fungi, plants, insects, and mammalian cells. Expression of the hph gene has rarely been reported to induce effects other than those expected. Hygromycin B is the most common dominant selectable marker used in the molecular manipulation of Histoplasma capsulatum in the generation of knockout strains of H. capsulatum or as a marker in mutant strains. hph-expressing organisms appear to have no defect in long-term in vitro growth and survival and have been successfully used to exploit host-parasite interaction in short-term cell culture systems and animal experiments. We introduced the hph gene as a selectable marker together with the gene encoding green fluorescent protein into wild-type strains of H. capsulatum. Infection of mice with hph-expressing H. capsulatum yeast cells at sublethal doses resulted in lethality. The lethality was not attributable to the site of integration of the hph construct into the genomes or to the method of integration and was not H. capsulatum strain related. Death of mice was not caused by altered cytokine profiles or an overwhelming fungal burden. The lethality was dependent on the kinase activity of hygromycin phosphotransferase. These results should raise awareness of the potential detrimental effects of the hph gene.     

Measurement of hygromycin B phosphotransferase activity in crude mammalian cell extracts by a simple dot-blot assay.

Hygromycin B (Hy) resistance, encoded by the prokaryotic gene hph, is commonly used as a dominant selectable marker for gene transfer experiments in mammalian cells. We describe a simple, quantitative dot-blot assay for measuring the activity in crude mammalian cell extracts of Hy phosphotransferase, the product of the hph gene. The assay shows no cross interference with substrates for neomycin phosphotransferase II, the product of the commonly used marker gene neo; hph and neo may thus be useful as a set of two non-interfering selectable marker and reporter genes for gene transfer experiments in mammalian cells.     

The hygromycin B-resistance-encoding gene as a selectable marker for stable transformation of Trypanosoma brucei.

The hygromycin B (Hy) phosphotransferase-encoding gene (hph), was tested as a selectable marker in the protozoan, Trypanosoma brucei. The hph gene was placed under the control of the promoter of a procyclic acidic repetitive protein-encoding gene, and was integrated by homologous recombination into an intergenic region of the alpha beta-tubulin-encoding gene tandem array of T. brucei. In contrast to many other selectable markers tested, spontaneous Hy resistance was not observed, making Hy a second useful marker for transformation of this protozoan.     

Thermoadaptation of a mesophilic hygromycin B phosphotransferase by directed evolution in hyperthermophilic Archaea: selection of a stable genetic marker for DNA transfer into Sulfolobus solfataricus

A mutated version of the hygromycin B phosphotransferase (hph(mut)) gene from Escherichia coli, isolated by directed evolution at 75 degrees C in transformants of a thermophilic strain of Sulfolobus solfataricus, was characterized with respect to its genetic stability in both the original mesophilic and the new thermophilic hosts. This gene was demonstrated to be able to express the hygromycin B resistance phenotype and to be steadily maintained and propagated also in other, more thermophilic strains of S. solfataricus, i.e., up to 82 degrees C. Furthermore, it may be transferred to S. solfataricus cells by cotransformation with pKMSD48, another extrachromosomal element derived from the virus SSV1 of Sulfolobus shibatae, without any loss of stability and without affecting the replication and infectivity of this viral DNA. The hph(mut) and the wild-type gene products were expressed at higher levels in E. coli and purified by specific affinity chromatography on immobilized hygromycin B. Comparative characterization revealed that the mutant enzyme had acquired significant thermoresistance and displayed higher thermal activity with augmented catalytic efficiency.     

Silencing of hygromycin phosphotransferase (hph) gene during sexual cycle and its reversible inactivation in heterokaryon of Neurospora crassa

We transformed wild-type Neurospora crassa with hph gene encoding hygromycin phosphotransferase to obtain hygromycin-resistant (HygR) transformants and studied their behavior in the vegetative and sexual phases of growth. During vegetative growth in the absence of hygromycin, the hph gene was stable for at least three successive transfers with conidia. On the other hand, the behavior of the transformants in the sexual phase was different. The segregation of hph gene in the meiotic progeny was in accordance with the Mendelian ratio as inferred from PCR analysis. However, in spite of inheriting the hph gene, a proportion of the meiotic progeny failed to grow in the presence of hygromycin. This suggested that the hph gene is silenced in some progeny. The silencing effect was not confined to hph gene expression, since one-half of the meiotic progeny also showed poor conidiation. Genomic Southern analysis indicated deletions/rearrangements of the transgene in the progeny. A heterokaryon between silenced and non-silenced strains was able to grow on hygromycin-containing medium, showing that silencing was recessive. Silencing was reversed in homokaryotic nuclei extracted from such heterokaryon.     

Analysis of a bacterial hygromycin B resistance gene by transcriptional and translational fusions and by DNA sequencing

We have characterized hygromycin B and apramycin resistance genes from an E. coli plasmid. We have localized the coding and control regions of these genes by deletion of DNA fragments from plasmids containing the genes. It was found that polypeptides with apparent molecular weights of 33,000 and 31,500 daltons are encoded by the apramycin resistance gene and polypeptides with apparent molecular weights of 42,500 and 41,500 daltons are encoded by the hygromycin B resistance gene. DNA sequence analysis identified a typical promoter sequence upstream of the genes. Deletion of this promoter eliminated both resistance phenotypes, and hygromycin B resistance could be restored by substitution of a promoter from a foreign gene. The region known to be necessary for hygromycin B resistance contained an open reading frame large enough to encode the hygromycin B resistance gene product. This open reading frame was fused with the amino terminus of beta-galactosidase. This hybrid gene conferred hygromycin resistance to E. coli, and expression of resistance was under IPTG control.     

Stable transformation of Pleurotus ostreatus to hygromycin B resistance using Lentinus edodes GPD expression signals

It was reported that Pleurotus ostreatus was transformed unstably using recombinant plasmids containing a hygromycin B phosphotransferase gene (hph) under the control of Aspergillus nidulans expression signals, and that the plasmids were maintained extrachromosomally in the transformants. Here we report a stable and integrative transformation of the fungus to hygromycin B resistance, using a recombinant hph fused with Lentinus edodes glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase expression signals. Restriction-enzyme-mediated integration (REMI) was also tried and increased the transformation efficiency about ten-fold.     

A vector that replicates as a plasmid and can be efficiently selected in B-lymphoblasts transformed by Epstein-Barr virus.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) transforms human B-lymphocytes into proliferating blasts which are efficiently established into cell lines. The viral DNA in these cell lines is usually present as complete, unintegrated plasmid molecules. A cis-acting element of EBV, oriP, permits plasmid maintenance in adherent cells that carry EBV DNA. We constructed a vector, pHEBo, that carries oriP and showed that it is also efficiently maintained as a plasmid when introduced into EBV-transformed B-lymphoblasts. The pHEBo vector carries the coding sequences for the hph gene from Escherichia coli such that it can be expressed in mammalian cells and confers resistance to the antibiotic hygromycin B. Hygromycin B kills EBV-transformed lymphoblasts at concentrations of 50 to 300 micrograms/ml. The combination of oriP plus the expressed hph gene makes pHEBo useful for the stable introduction of genes on plasmids into EBV-transformed lymphoblasts. Because pHEBo is derived from the plasmid pBR322 it can be easily isolated from lymphoblasts by reintroduction into E. coli.     

Resistance to hygromycin B

Summary A bacterial gene encoding hygromycin phosphotransferase has been modified for expression in tobacco cells. The aphIV gene from Escherichia coli was inserted between the 5 sequence of an octopine synthase gene and the 3 sequence from a nopaline synthase gene. The new gene was incorporated between T-DNA border fragments in the broad-host-range vector pKT210 to form a micro-Ti plasmid. Agrobacterium tumefaciens containing this plasmid and a Ti plasmid as helper was used to incite crown gall tumors on aseptic tobacco plants. Samples of these galls could grow in the presence of hygromycin B, provided that the aph gene had been fused with the ocs gene to maintain the sense of the coding sequences. When the genes had been fused in the reverse antisense orientation none of the gall samples could grow on hygromycin. Unlike wild-type galls the hygromycin-resistant tissue contained DNA sequences homologous to the aphIV gene. Thus the modified gene can be introduced into tobacco cells and confer on them the ability to grow in the presence of hygromycin B.     

潮霉素B抗性为选择标记的整合型表达载体的构建及在米根霉中的遗传转化

为了建立适合米根霉的遗传转化体系,应用重叠延伸PCR的方法构建了以潮霉素B抗性为选择标记的单交换整合型表达载体p BS-hygro-ldh A;分别采用PEG/Ca Cl2介导的原生质体转化、原生质体电转化及萌发孢子电转化的方法将表达载体p BS-hygro-ldh A转化入米根霉AS 3.819菌株中,并研究了菌丝酶解时间、孢子萌发时间以及电转化电场强度对于转化效率的影响;通过荧光定量PCR(q PCR)对米根霉转化子基因组中质粒整合拷贝数进行了检测,并研究了其对米根霉转化子抗性稳定性的影响。实验结果表明成功获得整合了表达载体p BS-hygro-ldh A的米根霉转化子。菌丝酶解140 min产生的原生质体其再生率和转化率最高,原生质体电转化最佳电场强度为13 k V/cm,孢子萌发2.5 h转化率最高,萌发孢子电转化最佳电场强度为14 k V/cm。萌发孢子电转化方法转化率要高于原生质体转化的方法。荧光定量PCR检测结果表明,在一定范围内,高质粒整合拷贝数的米根霉转化子比较稳定。研究建立了用于工业米根霉菌株的遗传转化体系,为米根霉代谢调控研究以及菌种改造工作提供了基础与支持。     

Expression of the Escherichia coli beta-glucuronidase gene in Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides.

The plant-pathogenic fungus Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides has been successfully transformed by using two different positive selection systems in combination with the Escherichia coli gusA gene. The selectable markers used in this study were the hygromycin B phosphotransferase gene (hph) from E. coli and the gene (bml) for beta-tubulin from a benomyl-resistant mutant of Neurospora crassa. A lower transformation rate was obtained with the bml system than with the hph system. Conversely, cotransformation frequencies, as determined with medium plates containing the chromogenic substrate 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-glucuronic acid, were higher with bml than with hph as the selectable marker. The hygromycin-resistant transformants were mitotically stable, and both the selectable gene and gusA were maintained through conidiation. The vector DNA was integrated into the genome, and the number and sites of insertion varied among transformants. Enzyme assays of mycelial extracts showed that beta-glucuronidase activity was highest in transformants with a high gusA copy number. Expression of gusA during growth of the fungus on plants was easily detectable and did not affect pathogenicity. These results form the basis for construction of a versatile and sensitive reporter gene system for P. herpotrichoides.     

Expression of the Escherichia coli beta-glucuronidase gene in Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides.

The plant-pathogenic fungus Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides has been successfully transformed by using two different positive selection systems in combination with the Escherichia coli gusA gene. The selectable markers used in this study were the hygromycin B phosphotransferase gene (hph) from E. coli and the gene (bml) for beta-tubulin from a benomyl-resistant mutant of Neurospora crassa. A lower transformation rate was obtained with the bml system than with the hph system. Conversely, cotransformation frequencies, as determined with medium plates containing the chromogenic substrate 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-glucuronic acid, were higher with bml than with hph as the selectable marker. The hygromycin-resistant transformants were mitotically stable, and both the selectable gene and gusA were maintained through conidiation. The vector DNA was integrated into the genome, and the number and sites of insertion varied among transformants. Enzyme assays of mycelial extracts showed that beta-glucuronidase activity was highest in transformants with a high gusA copy number. Expression of gusA during growth of the fungus on plants was easily detectable and did not affect pathogenicity. These results form the basis for construction of a versatile and sensitive reporter gene system for P. herpotrichoides.     

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated genetic transformation of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (agro-transformation) was successfully applied to the entomogenous fungus Beauveria bassiana. Conidia of B. bassiana were transformed to hygromycin B resistance using the hph gene of Escherichia coli as the selective trait, under the control of a heterologous fungal promoter and the Aspergillus nidulans trpC terminator. The efficiency of transformation was up to 28 and 96 transformants per 10(4) and 10(5) target conidia, respectively, using three distinct vectors. High mitotic stability of the transformants (80-100%) was demonstrated after five successive transfers on a nonselective medium. Abortive transformants were observed for all the hph(r) vectors used. Putative transformants were analysed for the presence of the hph gene by PCR and Southern analysis. The latter analysis revealed the integration of two or more copies of the hph gene in the genome. The agro-transformation method was found to be effective for the isolation of B. bassiana hygromycin resistant transformants and may represent a useful tool for insertional mutagenesis studies in this fungus.     

Heat-inducible hygromycin resistance in transgenic tobacco

We have constructed a chimaeric gene consisting of the promoter of the soybean heat shock (hs) gene Gmhsp17,6-L, the coding region of a hygromycin phosphotransferase (hpt) gene, and the termination sequence of the nopaline synthase (nos) gene. This gene fusion was introduced into tobacco by Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer. Heat-inducible synthesis of mRNA was shown by northern hybridization, and translation of this RNA into a functional protein was indicated by plant growth on hygromycin-containing media in a temperature-dependent fashion. One hour incubation at 40 °C per day, applied for several weeks, was sufficient to express the resistant phenotype in transgenic plants containing the chimaeric hs-hpt gene. These data suggest that the hygromycin resistance gene is functional and faithfully controlled by the soybean hs promoter. The suitability of these transgenic plants for selection of mutations that alter the hs response is discussed.