African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 3 (1), pp. 112-115, January 2004

Full Length Research Paper

Biolistic transformation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with b‑glucosidase gene from Cellulomonas biazotea

S. Parvez*, Z. Mukhtar, F. Rashid, M.I. Rajoka

National Institute for Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering, P.O. Box 577, Jhang Road, Faisalabad, Pakistan.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: sparvez@nibge.org.

Accepted 27 October 2003

A b‑glucosidase genomic DNA from Cellulomonas biazotea NIAB 442 was isolated and coated onto tungsten microprojectiles for direct transformation of the gene into Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Transformation of b-glucosidase into S. cerevisae conferred the ability to hydrolyse esculin and cellobiose, indicated that the gene is expressed in the bombarded yeast.

Key words: Biolistic transformation, b-glucosidase, Cellulomonas biazotea, Saccharomyces cerevisiae.