Optimizing T4 DNA polymerase conditions enhances the efficiency of one-step sequence- and ligation-independent cloning

Previously, we developed a one-step sequence- and ligation-independent cloning (SLIC) method that is simple, fast, and cost-effective. However, although one-step SLIC generally works well, its cloning efficiency is occasionally poor, potentially due to formation of stable secondary structures within...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mohammad Nazrul Islam, Kyeong Won Lee, Hyung-Soon Yim, Seong Hyuk Lee, Hae Chang Jung, Jung-Hyun Lee, Jae-Yeon Jeong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2017-09-01
Series:BioTechniques
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.future-science.com/doi/10.2144/000114588
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Previously, we developed a one-step sequence- and ligation-independent cloning (SLIC) method that is simple, fast, and cost-effective. However, although one-step SLIC generally works well, its cloning efficiency is occasionally poor, potentially due to formation of stable secondary structures within the single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) region generated by T4 DNA polymerase during the 2.5 min treatment at room temperature. To overcome this problem, we developed a modified thermo-regulated one-step SLIC approach by testing shorter T4 DNA polymerase treatment durations (5 s–2.5 min) over a wide range of temperatures (25–75°C). The highest cloning efficiency resulted when inserts with homology lengths <20 bases were treated with T4 DNA polymerase for 30 s at 50°C. This briefer T4 polymerase treatment at a higher temperature helps increase cloning efficiency for inserts with strong secondary structures at their ends, increasing the utility of one-step SLIC for the cloning of short fragments.
ISSN:0736-6205
1940-9818