Maize Transposable Elements Ac/Ds as Insertion Mutagenesis Tools in Candida albicans

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Genetics
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Genetic research in nonmodel organisms like Candida albicans is hindered by a lack of efficient gene mutation tools.
• Transposon-based gene tagging offers a potential solution for generating and identifying mutations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a two-element transposon tagging system for in vivo insertion mutagenesis in Candida albicans.
• To adapt the maize Activator (Ac)/Dissociation (Ds) transposon system for use in this fungal pathogen.

Main Methods:

• Constructed a nonautonomous Dissociation (Ds) transposon with a selectable marker integrated into the ADE2 promoter.
• Inserted a codon usage-adapted Activator (Ac) transposase gene into the NEUT5L locus.
• Expressed the Ac transposase in Candida albicans to induce Ds transposition.

Main Results:

• The Ac/Ds system demonstrated efficient excision and reintegration of the Ds element within the Candida albicans genome.
• The system is suitable for generating targeted gene mutations in clinical strains.

Conclusions:

• The Ac/Ds transposon system is a promising tool for saturating insertion mutagenesis in Candida albicans.
• This technology can significantly advance genetic research and functional genomics in this important fungal pathogen.