Candida albicans exoglucanase as a reporter gene in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

The Candida albicans XOG1 gene, previously shown to be a good reporter gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and C. albicans, was tested in Schizosaccharom yces pombe. Unlike the budding yeast, S. pombe does not produce exoglucanas e activity and hence this system would be applicable to any given strain of this organism. The XOG1 gene was located under the control of the nmt1 pro moter and its functionality could be demonstrated even at high temperatures (37 degrees C). The exoglucanase activity can be measured both in vivo and in vitro by either a simple biochemical reaction (on cells or media) or by flow cytometry, because the cells remain viable after the assay. (C) 1999 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Sci ence B.V. All rights reserved.