Carotene-superproducing mutants ofPhycomyces blakesleeanus

Luis M. Salgado, Eduardo R. Bejarano, Enrique Cerda-Olmedo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

The wild-type mycelia of the fungusPhycomyces blakesleeanus are yellow because they contain small amounts of β-carotene. Some mutations lead to large increases in β-carotene content. These "deep yellow" mutants carry recessive mutations in either of two genes,carD andcarS, not linked to each other or to other genes related to carotenogenesis. ThecarS mutants contain up to 100 times more β-carotene than the wild type; thecarD mutants, up to 20 times.carS mutants are unable to form zygospores and their carotenogenesis is not activated by retinol; on the other hand,carD mutants complete the sexual cycle and respond to retinol.carS mutations are epistatic overcarD mutations. The product of genecarS mediates the end-product regulation of the pathway; it is suggested that thecarD gene product increases the amount or the activity of thecarS gene product.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)332-336
Number of pages5
JournalExperimental Mycology
Volume13
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1989
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Phycomyces blakesleeanus β-carotene biosynthesis and regulation
  • deep yellow mutants

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