African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 5 (4), pp. 327-332, 16 February 2006   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2006 Academic Journals        

Full Length Research Paper

Expression of melanin and insecticidal protein from Rhodotorula glutinis in Escherichia coli

Julius K. OLOKE¹* and Bernard R. Glick²

¹Department of Biology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, P. M. B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.

²Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1.

*Correspondence author.  E-mail: jkoloke@skannet.com

Accepted 24 January, 2006

Both the salmon/red melanin and the insecticidal producing genes of Rhodotorula glutinis was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli using plasmid pZErO-1. This work suggests that in Rhodotorula species melanin and insecticidal toxin are co-expressed and therefore possibly co-evolved.

Key words: Rhodotorula glutinis, Escherichia coli, Melanin, Insecticidal Protein.