Genetic analysis of Candida albicans: identification of different isoleucine-valine, methionine, and arginine alleles by complementation.

By using the spheroplast fusion technique as a tool for genetic analysis, we have demonstrated complementation among three of four isoleucine-valine mutants, two of three methionine mutants, and two arginine mutants of independent origin from two different Candida albicans isolates. The two adenine mutants derived from the same parent strain did not complement. Complementation resulted predominantly from heterokaryon formation and, in some cases, from heterozygote formation. In either case, most fusion products were unstable and showed nuclear as well as chromosomal segregation, in a few cases resulting in recombination of parental auxotrophic markers. However, some fusion products were fairly stable.