σ_marY1, the LTR of the gypsy-Type Retroelement marY1 from the Basidiomycete Tricholoma matsutake, Allows Multicopy DNA Integration in Lentinula edodes

Abstract

  σ_marY1 is the LTR of the retroelement marY1 from the homobasidiomycete Tricholoma matsutake. Upon integration through transformation, pLC1-hph carrying a σ_marY1 derivative, σ*_marY1, conferred the hygromycin-resistant phenotype stronger than the vector without σ*_marY1 on Lentinula edodes. Based on the densitometric analysis after Southern hybridization, a copy number of the former construct integrated in the genome is much higher than that of the latter. We conclude that σ_marY1 allows multicopy DNA integration and will be useful in the genetic research on this fungal group.