I. Janatova et al., ARS sequences in homologous and heterologous ADE2 loci are capable of promoting autonomous replication of plasmids in Schwanniomyces occidentalis, CURR GENET, 37(5), 2000, pp. 298-303
We have analyzed ARS elements linked to homologous and heterologous ADE2 lo
ci functioning in Schwanniomyces occidentalis. We have identified a region
of the ADE2 locus of S. occidentalis which promotes autonomous replication
of plasmids in S. occidentalis cells. This region is within 385 bp precedin
g the ATG codon of the S. occidentalis ADE2 gene. It contains sequences sim
ilar to ARS core consensus sequences, ARS boxes, and a potential transcript
ion activator binding site characterized in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The A
DE2 gene of S. cerevisiae was found to complement the ade2 mutation in S. o
ccidentalis cells and the 5' UTR region of this gene is capable of supporti
ng autonomous replication of plasmids in S. occidentalis. Furthermore, we c
onfirmed that the origin of replication of the 2 mu m plasmid and the ARS1
sequence of S. cerevisiae are also functional in S. occidentalis cells. Pla
smids carrying either ARS, the SwARSA element of S. occidentalis, the ARS l
inked to the ADE2 gene of S. cerevisiae, and the ARSI sequence or the 2 mu
m ori, were found to be maintained in S. occidentalis cells as episomal mon
omers or oligomers. However, their stability was low as aleady reported for
the ARS in S. occidentalis.