CaMV 35S promoter directs beta-glucuronidase expression in Ganoderma lucidum and Pleurotus citrinopileatus

The cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter has been most commonly used in plant transformation studies, but its activity in mushrooms has not been reported. p301-b is a binary vector containing a bialaphos resistance gene driven by the promoter of Lentinus edodes glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPD) gene. CaMV 35S-GUS was inserted into p301-b, and the resulting construct p301-bG was transformed to protoplasts of Ganoderma lucidum and basidiospores of Pleurotus citrinopileatus. GUS activity was observed in the transformants, indicating that CaMV 35S promoter can direct expression of exogenous gene in the mushrooms. This is the first report on the application of CaMV 35S promoter in genetic modification of mushrooms.