Efficient transformation of Rhizopus delemar by electroporation of germinated spores

High efficient transformation of mycelial fungi is essential to both metabolic engineering and physiological analysis of these industrially important microorganisms. However, transformation efficiencies for mycelial fungi are highly restricted by difficulties in colony formation and competent cell preparation. In this work, an innovative transformation procedure that could significantly improve the efficiency of colony formation and transformation process has been established for a typical mycelial fungus, Rhizopus delemar. Single colonies of R. delemar were obtained with the addition of sodium deoxycholate. Fresh germinated spores of R. delemar were successfully transformed by electroporation. In addition, by pretreatment of the germinated spores with 0.05 M lithium acetate (LiAc) and 20 mM dithiothreitol (DTT) before electroporation, the transformation efficiency was further improved by 9.5-fold. The final transformation efficiency at optimal conditions reached 1239 transformants/μg DNA. The method described here would facilitate more efficient metabolic engineering and investigation of physiological functions in R. delemar or other similar mycelial fungi.