Gene deletion in Schizophyllum commune is hampered by a low incidence of homologous integration. As a consequence, extensive screening is required to identify a transformant with the desired genotype. To alleviate this and to facilitate the assembly of deletion plasmids, vector pDelcas was constructed. This construct has a set of restriction sites, which allows for directional cloning of the flanking sequences at both sides of a nourseothricin resistance cassette. Moreover, it contains a phleomycin resistance cassette elsewhere in the plasmid, which is used to screen for transformants with an ectopic integration of the pDelcas derivative. The use of pDelcas derivatives in combination with an improved PCR screening protocol permitted the efficient identification of S. commune deletion strains. This procedure may also function in other basidiomycetes.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11274-010-0356-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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N-linked glycans of Schizophyllum commune consist of Man 5-9 GlcNAc 2 structures. Lack of further glycan maturation is explained by the absence of genes encoding such functions in this and other homobasidiomycetes. N-linked glycans in vegetative mycelium and fruiting bodies of S. commune are mainly Man 7 GlcNAc 2 and Man 5 GlcNAc 2 , respectively, suggesting more efficient mannose trimming in the mushroom.