Analysis and optimization of recombinant DNA joining reactions

Randy J. Legerski, Donald L. Robberson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

The statistical segment length of duplex DNA was determined in phage T4 ligase (poly(deoxyribonucleotide): poly(deoxyribonucleotide) ligase (AMP forming), EC 6.5.1.1) buffer (50 mm-Tris · HCl (pH 7.8), 20 mm-dithiothreitol, 10 mm-MgCl2, 1 mm-ATP) at 12 °C to be 1030(± 116) Å. This result was obtained by electron microscopic examination of the molecular distributions generated by T4 ligase-mediated joining of EcoRI-cleaved pBR322 DNA. This value of the statistical segment length was utilized in an extension of the Jacobson-Stockmayer theory on the probability of intramolecular cyclization in order to optimize DNA joining reactions that are of great utility in recombinant DNA experiments. Five cloning systems were analyzed: circular plasmid vectors that had been linearized with one or two restriction endonucleases, circular plasmids that had been tailed with deoxyhomopolymers before joining, lambda-type cloning vectors and cosmids. The results are tabulated for convenient use in molecular cloning experiments.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)297-312
Number of pages16
JournalJournal of Molecular Biology
Volume181
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 20 1985

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Structural Biology
  • Molecular Biology

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