CLONING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CHITIN SYNTHASE GENE FRAGMENTS FROM PENICILLIUM-CHRYSOGENUM

DNA fragments homologous to chitin synthase were amplified from the ge nomic DNA of Penicillium chrysogenum by PCR. Cloning and sequencing of the PCR-amplified fragments led to the identification of four differe nt genes, designated PcCHS1, PcCHS2, PcCHS3, and PcCHS4. By comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences, PcCHS1 was identified as a gene for class I chitin synthase, PcCHS2 and PeCHS3 were for class II, and PcCHS4 was for class III. Among these only PcCHS4 includes an interven ing sequence of 56 bp. The analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence s revealed a close evolutionary relationship between Penicillium and a scomycetous fungi.