Deletion of Aspergillus nidulans aroC using a novel blaster module that combines ET cloning and marker rescue

Blaster cassettes are of significant value in functional genomics, as they represent tools with which to inactivate duplicated or homologous genes in an individual organism. We have constructed a novel blaster module which allows repeated gene deletion in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. Because bacterial resistance marker cassettes are employed as flanking repeats in direct orientation, the blaster cassette is suited for recombinogenic engineering by ET cloning in Escherichia coli. The functionality of the blaster module was demonstrated by deleting the chorismate mutase-encoding gene aroC of A. nidulans, followed by marker rescue based on mitotic recombination. The resulting aroCDelta strains are auxotrophic for phenylalanine but not tyrosine, and display a limited capacity for fruit body formation and ascosporogenesis, which depends on the phenylalanine/tyrosine supply. The data support the notion that amino acid status has a strong impact on cleistothecium development in A. nidulans.