Team:UC Berkeley/GatewayGenomic

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Genomic Based Gateway

Introduction

The in vivo plasmid based gateway scheme was successful and produce the desired product, but it also yielded a considerable amount of background. Closer analysis of the side products revealed that the background resulted from ccdB mutations that arose when the gene replicated and recombined in vivo. In an effort to circumvent background resulting from mutations in a negative selection gene, we decided to use positive selection. This way, we would be able to select for the desired products rather than selecting against unwanted side products and unreacted starting materials.

In order to implement positive selection, we used inducible origins of replication on our plasmids. These origins of replication will only be functional and allow plasmid replication if a specific protein is expressed in the cell. In our design, the assembly vector with an R6K origin (induced by the protein Pir) is integrated into the genome. The gene of interest alongside an OriV origin (induced by the protein TrfA) can then recombine with the genome. In this manner, the gene of interest can be moved to an assembly vector by inserting the entry vector into the genome. We could allow selective replication of the plasmids in our scheme by preforming the reaction in a cell expressing TrfA and then transforming the resulting mixture of plasmids into a cell expressing Pir.

We also incorporated our lysis device into our new entry vector in order to simplify the experimental protocol for this scheme by eliminating mini-preps.

Details about Plasmids and Strains

Plasmids

The entry plasmid in this scheme contains both the part of interest and an OriV origin of replication within the attL recombination sites. Since the plasmid has no constitutive origin of replication, it can only replicate in the presence of the protein TrfA. With the exception of the change in type and placement of the origin of replication, the entry plasmid maintains the same features as the traditional entry plasmid, pBca1256.

OriV entry vector.jpg

After the recombination

Strains

This scheme utilizes strains that include the assembly vector in the genome. The traditional double-antibiotic assembly vector has been modified to include an R6K origin of replication (which can be induced by the Pir protein) in place of a constitutively active replication origin. Since the integrated vector includes the attR2 sites that usually flank the vector region of the assembly plasmid, the attL1 sites in the entry plasmid can recombine with the genome to produce the desired product.

In addition to the integrated assembly vector, the strains also include TrfA in the genome to allow the replication of the entry vector containing an OriV origin. Additionally, one variation on this scheme has Xis and Int placed in the the genome to catalyze the recombination reaction.

Genomic Gateway Overview.jpg

Protocol for this Scheme

Discussion