Application of protoplast fusion to the nonconventional yeast

Abstract

Protuplas~ .fusion hu.s made a significant contribution to our understanding qf the genetics und biochemists? of the rfoncorl~,entional yeasts. and it has ,facilitated the creution ef no\'el strains of yeast thut display enhanced biotechnological potential. This article presents an examination of the means of isolating, reverting. and jikng yeast protoplasts, as well as an analysis of the products resulting jkom such fusions. Although this review is primarily concerned \vith the impact protoplast,fusion has made on our knowledge of the nonconventional yeasts.

Disruption of mitochondrial function in Candida albicans leads to reduced cellular ergosterol levels and elevated growth in the presence of amphotericin B

“…the mitochondrion) between cells (Ferenczy and Maraz 1977). The selection conditions employed here screened for the transfer of mitochondria in the construction of the cybrids, rather than the transfer of chromosomes, which is a far rarer event (Kavanagh and Whittaker 1996). Cybrids demonstrated a restored respiratory status, but some characteristics (e.g.…”

“…Respiratory competency can be restored to respiratorydeficient cells by transfer of the mitochondrion from a donor strain through protoplast fusion (Kavanagh and Whittaker 1996). A mitochondrion donor from a closely related strain (intra-specific transfer) or, in some cases, a mitochondrion from a different species (inter-specific transfer) can restore some respiratory function (Spirek et al 2000).…”

Piriformospora indica: An Axenically Culturable Mycorrhiza-Like Endosymbiotic Fungus

“…The removal of hyphal wall at protoplast formation may permit more extensive interaction between them (Kevei and Peberdy 1977;Baltz 1978). Protoplast fusion overcomes the problem of low recombination frequencies typically attained with natural systems (Hopwood 1981) and creating novel strains that display enhanced biotechnological potential (Kavanagh and Whittaker 1996). The advantages of protoplast fusion which make it an excellent genetic tool (Holt and Saunder 1985) are the following:…”

Improving industrial yeast strains: exploiting natural and artificial diversity

“…Distantly related species are more prone to show this effect than closely related species (Morgan, 1983). Generally, protoplast fusion experiments result in hybrids containing the full genome of one parent, with a (few) extra chromosome(s) of the second parent (Yamazaki & Nonomura, 1994; Kavanagh & Whittaker, 1996). As a consequence, the phenotype and genotype of the resulting fused strain are very difficult to predict.…”