Methods in Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering Part 1 Flashcards
utilizes laboratory-based technologies to manipulate DNA
genetic engineering
used as a tool to analyze gene structure and expression, changes in the DNA content of bacteria and eukaryotic cells by directly introducing cloned DNA to be apart of the genome
Recombinant DNA
what are the 2 essentials of a molecular biologist’s toolkit?
restriction endonucleases and cloning vectors
allow DNA to be cut into precise pieces
restriction endonucleases
such as plasmids or phages used to carry inserted foreign DNA fragments
cloning vectors
-enzymes that degrade nucleic acids, opposite of polymerase
-hydrolyze or break an ester bond in a phosphodiester linkage between adjacent nucleotides in a polynucleotide chain
nucleases
can hydrolyze internal bonds within a polynucleotide chain
endonuclease
acts at the end of a chain and hydrolyze from that end position
exonuclease
recognition site and cleavage site are the same
type II restriction enzymes
cleavage site can be up to 1000 bp away from the recognition site
Type I restriction enzymes
closer cleavage sites, usually up to 20 to 30 bp away from the recognition site
Type III
cut which leaves single-stranded 3’ or a 5’ overhang, that easily re-attach to other ends (sticky ends)
staggered cut
cut that doesn’t leave an overhang
blunt double-stranded cut
what is needed for a molecule to be cloned
a vector and an insert
What should an ideal vector be able to do?
replicate autonomously and be able to amplify insert DNA up to 10 kb
what does a vector generally contain?
-selectable marker
-origin of replication
-restriction site
Explain the cloning strategy:
-restriction enzyme cuts vector and insert
-vector and insert are combined
-complementary overhangs are fused together with T4 DNA ligase
-ligated molecules are used to transform E.coli
the process by which DNA is introduced into a host cell
transformation
describe the transformation process:
-competent E.coli take up outside DNA
-bacteria placed on antibiotic plates to see which ones took up a plasmid
-colonies form
cluster of identical plasmid-containing bacteria
colony
cloning that relies on the hybridization of the complementary base pairs Adenine and Thymine
TOPO cloning (Topoisomerase based cloning)
describe the process of TOPO cloning:
-Taq polymerase leaves a single A overhang on the 3’ end of PCR products or insert
-Thymine comes from a pre-cut , linear cloning ready TOPO vector that has a DNA topoisomerase I fused to the 3’ end
-topoisomerase acts as a ligase & joins A&T together
-
describe the process of TOPO cloning:
-Taq polymerase leaves a single A overhang on the 3’ end of PCR products or insert
-Thymine comes from a pre-cut , linear cloning ready TOPO vector that has a DNA topoisomerase I fused to the 3’ end
-topoisomerase acts as a ligase & joins A&T together
screening technique that allows for quick and easy detection of successful ligations in vector-based gene cloning
blue/white screen
describe blue/white screening for positive transformants:
-DNA is ligated into a vector
-vector is transformed into competent cells that are grow in the presence of X-gal
-success=white colony; unsuccessful=blue
what operon does blue/white screening utilize
lac
How is the presence of an active B-galactosidase detected by X-gal within the agar plate?
X-gal is cleaved by B-galactosidase to form a bright blue insoluble pigment