Abstract
Direct evidence for horizontal transfer of a mitochodnrial plasmid from the discomyceteAscobolus immersus to the pyrenomycetePodospora anserina is presented. Southern blot hybridisation analysis, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, and DNA sequencing demonstrate transmission of a linear plasmid upon hyphal contact. DNA extraction from isolated organelles indicates a mitochondrial localisation for the plasmid inP. anserina. This is the first report of horizontal gene transfer among unrelated fungi. These results have important evolutionary implications for plasmid propagation in fungi.
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Communicated by C. A. M. J. J. Van den Hondel
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Kempken, F. Horizontal transfer of a mitochondrial plasmid. Molec. Gen. Genet. 248, 89–94 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02456617
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02456617