FLO11 gene length and transcriptional level affect biofilm-forming ability of wild flor strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

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Abstract
InSaccharomyces cerevisiae,FLO11encodes an adhesin that is associated with different phenotypes, such as adherence to solid surfaces, hydrophobicity, mat and air–liquid biofilm formation. In the present study, we analysedFLO11allelic polymorphisms andFLO11-associated phenotypes of 20 flor strains. We identified 13 alleles of different lengths, varying from 3.0 to 6.1 kb, thus demonstrating thatFLO11is highly polymorphic. Two alleles of 3.1 and 5.0 kb were cloned into strain BY4742 to compare theFLO11-associated phenotypes in the same genetic background. We show that there is a significant correlation between biofilm-forming ability andFLO11length both in different and in the same genetic backgrounds. Moreover, we propose a multiple regression model that allows prediction of air–liquid biofilm-forming ability on the basis of transcription levels and lengths ofFLO11alleles in a population ofS. cerevisiaeflor strains. Considering that transcriptional differences are only partially explained by the differences in the promoter sequences, our results are consistent with the hypothesis thatFLO11transcription levels are strongly influenced by genetic background and affect biofilm-forming ability.

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