Gene cloning in Aspergillus nidulans: isolation of the isocitrate lyase gene (acuD)

Summary An Aspergillus nidulans gene library was constructed in a high-frequency transformation vector, pDJB3, based on the Neurospora crassa pyr4 gene. This gene library was used to isolate the structural gene for isocitrate lyase (acuD) by complementation of a deficiency mutation following transformation of A. nidulans. Plasmids rescued in Escherichia coli were able to transform five different A. nidulans acuD mutants. Transformation using plasmids containing the cloned fragment resulted in integration at the acuD locus in six of nine transformants.