In-fusion biobrick assembly

Overview

This is a protocol to assemble two BioBricks using the Clontech In-Fusion PCR Cloning Kit. This protocol allows for maintaining BioBrick standard formats and introducing mutations with two parts in a single step. One PCR-amplified BioBrick has homology on each end with the second PCR-amplified BioBrick (vector amplified with the BioBrick) to allow for the fragments to be fused together in the In-Fusion reaction. This procedure can be adapted to fuse more than two fragments together or to re-engineer existing BioBricks. The advantages of In-Fusion BioBrick assembly over standard assembly are that it is faster, does not require restriction digestions or ligations, and is more flexible in the sense that there is more control over the exact engineered sequence. The disadvantages are that it is more expensive, custom primers are required, and occasionally there are mutations in assembled plasmids. However, sequencing a few miniprepped plasmids usually results in at least one plasmid without mutations.

Materials

• Thermocycler
• Primers
• Phusion (or another high fidelity) PCR Mastermix
• Qiagen PCR Purification Kit
• Nanodrop (not required, but very useful)
• In-Fusion PCR Cloning Kit
• Gel box, power supply, and gel supplies
• Qiagen Miniprep Kit

Procedure

1. Order primers of parts to assemble.

For Part A (upstream part) + Part B (downstream part) with the pSB1A2 vector (this protocol can be adapted for different vectors by changing the sequences below)

• Part A Forward primer: 5'-TTCTGGAATTCGCGGCCGCTTCTAG-3' (specific to the pSB1A2 prefix + 5 bases upstream of the prefix)
• Part A Reverse primer: last 20 bases Part A + scar (if wanted) + first 20 bases Part B (reverse complement)
• Part B + vector Forward primer: reverse complement of Part A reverse primer
• Part B + vector reverse primer: 5'-CTAGAAGCGGCCGCGAATTCCAGAA-3' (reverse complement of Part A forward primer)

For Part A with the vector + Part B

• Part A + vector Forward primer: 5'-TACTAGTAGCGGCCGCTGCAGGCTTC-3' (specific to the pSB1A2 suffix + 5 bases downstream of the prefix)
• Part A + vector Reverse primer: last 20 bases Part A + scar (if wanted) + first 20 bases Part B (reverse complement)
• Part B Forward primer: reverse complement of Part A reverse primer
• Part B reverse primer: 5'-GAAGCCTGCAGCGGCCGCTACTAGTA-3' (reverse complement of Part A forward primer)

2. Perform a PCR reaction with a high fidelity polymerase such as Phusion using the recommended protocol. For template DNA, dilute miniprepped BioBrick plasmid DNA 1:1000 to minimize these “background” plasmids from getting transformed later.

3. Purify PCR products with Qiagen PCR Purification Kit and elute with 30 ul water.

4. Run a gel with 5 ul of the purified PCR products to determine if the products are of the correct size and there are no secondary bands.

5. Measure the concentration of your PCR products with a Nanodrop or by comparing against a ladder on your gel.

6. Perform the In-Fusion reaction using the recommended protocol.

7. Perform colony PCR on at least 3 colonies (10 is ideal) using the VF2/VR primers to find colonies that have the correct size insert.

8. Grow correct colony or colonies in LB+Amp overnight.

9. Perform miniprep(s) with the Qiagen Miniprep Kit.

10. Submit plasmid(s) for sequencing.

Notes

Please feel free to post comments, questions, or improvements to this protocol. Happy to have your input!

1. List troubleshooting tips here.
2. You can also link to FAQs/tips provided by other sources such as the manufacturer or other websites.
3. Anecdotal observations that might be of use to others can also be posted here.

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References

Will enter later.

Contact

Sean Sleight

sleight at u.washington.edu