An efficient method to optimize Kluyveromyces lactis gene targeting

Kluyveromyces lactis strains impaired in the nonhomologous end-joining pathway are relevant tools for the homologous integration of exogenous DNA into the genome, as in the mutant strains, close to 100% of the integrants are targeted to the homologous locus, compared with a few per cent for the wild-type recipient. Using a loxP-kanMX-loxP cassette together with a Cre-recombinase plasmid, a nej1∷loxP mutant strain suitable for multiple gene disruption has been constructed. Furthermore, using this strain, PCR-generated constructs with only 50 bp of homologous flanking sequences resulted in efficient exogenous DNA targeting.