An improved host-vector system for Candida maltosa using a gene isolated from its genome that complements the hiss mutation of Saccharomvces cerevisiae

Summary The host-vector system of an n-lkaneassimilating-yeast, Candida maltosa, which we previously constructed using an autonomously replicating sequence (ARS) region isolated from the genome of this yeast, utilizes C. maltosa J288 (leu2 ^–) as a host. As this host had a serious growth defect on n-alkane, we developed an improved host-vector system using C. maltosa CHI (his) as host. The vectors were constructed with the Candida ARS region and a DNA fragment isolated from the genome of C. maltosa. Since this DNA fragment could complement histidine auxotrophy of both C. maltosa CH1 and S. cerevisiae (hiss ^–), we termed the gene contained in this DNA fragment C-HIS5. The vectors were characterized in terms of transformation frequency and stability, and the nucleotide sequence of C-HISS was determined. The deduced amino acid sequence (389 residues) shared 51% homology with that of HISS of S. cerevisiae (384 residues; Nishiwaki et al. 1987).