Transformation of Mortierella alpina (fatty acid supplier) myceliums via AMT system (Agrobacterium Mediated Transformation)

Mortierella alpina is one of the most important fungi in food industry because of having ability of synthesizing unsaturated fatty acids, particularly Arashidonic Acid. This is a precursor of Eicosanoidregulate-lipoprotein metabolism which is involved in blood rheology, platelet activation and leukocyte-function, and the functional characteristics of the cell membrane.
In this study genetic transformation of M. alpina CBS754.68 fungus was evaluated via Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Agrobacterium rhizogenes. Agrobacteriums containing pBI121 vector were used for transformation of three days of old mycelia. Three days old hyphae were exposed to the bacteria with three level of time (one, two and three hours) in the present of acetosyringone. Mitotic stability of the third generation of transgenic (T2) was confirmed by GUS assay and amplification of CaMV 35S promoter by polymerase chain reaction.
The highest percentage of transformation and mitotic stability were obtained by using A. tumefaciens and A. rhizogenese, respectively.
Discussion and The results showed that to obtain more efficient and more stable transformation, the fundamental factor is the use of suitable species of Agrobacterium. It is the first report for transformation of autothroph strain of M. alpine via Agrobacterium.