TAQing2.0 for genome reorganization of asexual industrial yeasts by direct protein transfection

Genomic rearrangements often generate phenotypic diversification. We previously reported the TAQing system where genomic rearrangements are induced via conditional activation of a restriction endonuclease in yeast and plant cells to produce mutants with marked phenotypic changes. Here we developed the TAQing2.0 system based on the direct delivery of endonucleases into the cell nucleus by cell-penetrating peptides. Using the optimized procedure, we introduce a heat-reactivatable endonuclease Taql into an asexual industrial yeast (torula yeast), followed by a transient heat activation of Taql. TAQing2.0 leads to generation of mutants with altered flocculation and morphological phenotypes, which exhibit changes in chromosomal size. Genome resequencing suggested that torula yeast is triploid with six chromosomes and the mutants have multiple rearrangements including translocations having the Taql recognition sequence at the break points. Thus, TAQing2.0 is expected as a useful method to obtain various mutants with altered phenotypes without introducing foreign DNA into asexual industrial microorganisms.

Automated summary

The TAQing2.0 system enables the delivery of endonucleases into the cell nucleus of asexual industrial microorganisms, inducing genomic rearrangements and generating mutants with altered phenotypes, without the need for introducing foreign DNA.