PCR and DNA Cloning Flashcards
Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Method to amplify a specific fragment of DNA
- Also based on in vitro DNA synthesis
- Has many different uses - revolutionized molecular biology
Cloning a it of DNA to make millions of copies
A little history
- Up until the 1970’s DNA was actually one of the hardest things to analyze and characterize.
- Currently it is probably one of the easiest things to work with and characterize, can sequence a whole genome, millions of bp per day
- Currently we can sequence DNA, engineer DNA and manipulate DNA in a variety of ways. Can know mutations for specific conditions and target treatments
How did PCR get invented?
- Kary Mullis thought about it on a car ride up the coast
* Earned Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1993
PCR primers
Oligonucleotide primers which bound theregion to be amplified are made
20-25 bp, finding exact same match in other places in the DNA is impossible
PCR Polymerase
Taq polymerase, isolated form
Thermus aquaticus, is resistant to heat denaturation
PCR: The Reaction
Repeated many times to amplify a specific region from as little as one copy of DNA
• Three basic steps:
– Denaturation (92 degrees)
– Hybridization (annealing temp 50-58 degrees)
– Elongation (72 degrees)
• This is repeated over and over for exponential “growth” ofthe amplified fragment
What makes a good primer?
20-25 bp
1/2 GC content
Tm = 2(A+T) + 4(G+C), should be about 50-58 degrees (below 72 degrees or primer will come off)
G/C at 3’ end for elongation
How many cycles are in a PCR reaction?
The process is repeated 25-35 times, to yield over 1 billion copies of the amplified region from a single copy of DNA
What else is in a PCR reaction?
Buffer- if higher salt content, easier primer match
Magnesium chloride- also controls permissiveness
Application of PCR
- Cloning genes
- Diagnosis of inherited diseases
- Detection of viruses (HIV)
- Studies of gene expression during development
- Forensics (DNA fingerprinting)
- Evolution (amplification of DNA of extinct species)
Recombinant DNA technology
Utilizes a mixture of new techniques and some borrowed from other fields, Some of the techniques are utilized in a variety of different ways
– Restriction nucleases – DNA cloning – Nucleic acid hybridization – Sequencing of nucleotides in a purified DNA fragment – Monitoring gene expression
Why isolate or clone a gene?
• To study how genes and proteins function in the cell and how cells function in an organism
– When and where is a gene expressed?
– How is gene expression regulated?
– How does a gene act to make a cell function?
– How are individual genes involved in a particular disease?
- To make therapeutical proteins (recombinant protein drugs)
- To replace the “bad” gene in a patient (gene therapy)
- To improve agricultural live stock and crops (GM foods)
We have the DNA but want to make more copies
- The best way to clone a DNA is to have the cell replicate it
- Cells won’t replicate just a fragment of DNA
- The fragment of DNA needs to be placed (ligated or inserted) into a vector that can undergo replication…fragment of DNA + vector = recombinant DNA
- A vector is a self-replicating DNA (i.e. plasmid or virus)
- Need a host that can uptake and replicate the recombinant DNA (i.e. E. coli and transformation)
Features of a Vector
(1) a replicon: origin of replication
(2) a selectable marker: allows for selection;
- is often a bacterial gene that confers antibiotic resistance
- some of the often used antibiotic resistance are ampr, kanr, tetr, etc.
(3) a polylinker: is a small region of DNA that contains multiple unique restriction sites that are not found elsewhere , where restriction enzyme will cut
- Known site where foreign DNA are inserted (ligated)
Forming Recombinant DNAs
When restriction fragments are combined with a vector we have engineered a recombinant DNA. Cut with same restriction enzyme to have same sticky ends
Vector - a DNA molecule that replicates independent of the genome
Insert - DNA that is introduced into the vector
DNA Ligase
Plasmids
- Circular double stranded DNA
- These occur naturally in bacteria yeast, and higher eukaryotes
- Can be parasitic or symbiotic with their hosts
- Replicate separately from the chromosomal DNA of the cell
What are the requirements to use plasmids as vectors?
– Selectable marker
– Must be able to introduce the recombinant DNA into the cell (process called transformation)
Restriction enzymes
Homodimer, recognizes palindromic sequences
Some create blunt ends, some create sticky ends
How do we find just the gene we are looking for?
- You need to “fish” the right gene out of all of your recombinant fragments
- The fragment or gene of interest is also needed in large quantities.
- DNA cloning is a technique to produce these large quantities (it is also used for other purposes)
How do the plasmids/vectors enter the bacterial cells?
Recall that Avery, Macleod and McCarty showed bacterial cellstake up DNA from their surroundings (transformation)
Two common methods:
Salt (CaCl2)
Electroporation- metal plate with current, makes hole in cell wall so plasmid can enter
Sometimes EColi have plasmid without DNA of interest
Process of inserting a gene
Purify human and plasmid DNA
Cut with same enzyme and join fragments into recombinant DNA with ligase (don’t have to use the same enzyme, just ahve to have same sticky ends)
Incubate E.Coli so that they take up the plasmids, and grow them in a medium that selects for those containing a recombinant plasmid