Search
Search
查看更多产品信息 BLOCK-iT™ Pol II miR RNAi Expression Vector Kit with EmGFP - FAQs (K493600)
85 个常见问题解答
miRNA有时会在RNA Pol II（Lee et al，2004）的驱动下，在长初级转录本中成簇表达。我们的载体支持miRNA串联，使它们可以在一个初级转录本中表达，从而确保多个miRNA的共表达。在最后的重组质粒中，原来的限制性酶切位点会重新出现，使重组质粒能够进行多次串联。下图揭示了将2个来自不同miRNA载体的miRNA串联进入1个miRNA表达载体的原理。注意：将靶向不同基因的miRNA串联在一起，通常会稍微削弱其对各自基因的敲低作用。将靶向相同基因的不同miRNA或者相同的miRNA串联在一起，会增强敲低作用。由于miRNA串联增加了转录本的加工过程，因此，EmGFP的表达会被削弱。见使用手册第33页对如何串联pre-miRNA的说明。
根据已发表的文献（Tsien，1998），pcDNA6.2-GW/EmGFP-miR表达载体中EmGFP的激发和发射波长分别为487 nm和509 nm。可使用标准FITC滤波装置进行检测。我们推荐使用Omega XF100。
推荐使用我们的pcDNA6.2GW/EmGFP-miR载体，其中，EmGFP与目标miRNA共同表达。您将看到EmGFP表达与miRNA的敲低活性呈100%相关性。
载体经过设计和优化可用于表达经修饰的miR155结构，并最终生成通过RNAi通路实现基因打靶的siRNA。如果想用来表达天然miRNA，可能还需更多优化。或者，也可将天然miRNA克隆进入标准蛋白表达载体，并检查是否有miRNA产物。请查看我们针对miRNA过表达给出的2个建议：
1. 对gDNA进行PCR，扩增内源性pre-miRNA发夹以及两侧约为50–80 bp的侧翼序列，然后TOPO克隆进入表达载体，例如我们的pcDNA载体。这将会产生一个包含天然侧翼序列和pre-miRNA的转录本。这将可能成为最佳的内源性miRNA类似物，因为侧翼序列和前导miRNA含有正确的加工生成成熟miRNA所需的信息。该技术的缺点在于有点费时费力并且不适合用于分析多种miRNA（每个都需要识别基因位点、引物设计和成功的PCR）。
2. 在Invitrogen BLOCK-iT Pol II miR RNAi载体系统中，使用成熟miRNA序列（或它的前21个核苷酸）作为“反义”序列。该技术已成功发表（见Lee et al，PNAS 2006；103；15669-15674），可实现快速、简单的设计和克隆。
该方法能够以相同的方式建立许多miRNA载体。我们也非常明确miR RNAi载体的主要产物具有预期的成熟miRNA 5’末端。但是，我们也知道3’末端是可变的，可能会包括一些包含茎环序列核苷酸（GUU……）的稍小或稍长的种类。3’末端可能对miRNA功能来说最不重要，但是对于某些miR-target相互作用可能较为重要，只是我们并不知道这些类似物与内源性miRNA有多接近。
该载体可用于稳定表达并且能够使用病毒导入。该miR RNAi载体包括内源性 miRNA 的侧翼序列和茎环序列，可指导从较长的Pol lI转录本（pri-miRNA）上切除改造过的miRNA。当存在细胞核时，这些载体可有效使用内源性细胞器加工生成具有敲低作用的序列，这些经过特殊设计的序列与您的目标序列具有100%同源性，可引起靶标切割。此外，茎环序列具有特殊的限制性酶切位点，因此，它能够实现线性化而获得更有效的测序，这对具有发夹结构的标准的shRNA有时是一个挑战。使用该试剂盒可获得超过70%的敲低成功率，轻松追踪表达（可共同表达绿色荧光蛋白），实现同时敲低多个靶标以及组成型或诱导型表达。
理论上，pDONR载体在BP反应时对插入片段没有大小的限制。我们自己测试过的最大片段是12 kb。TOPO载体对插入片段大小更敏感一些，要获得较高的克隆效率其插入片段长度的上限是3-5 kb。
在得到attB-PCR产物之后，我们建议对产物进行纯化以去除PCR缓冲液，残留的dNTP，attB引物，以及attB引物二聚体。引物和引物二聚体在BP反应中会高效的与供体载体重组，因而会增加转化E. coli时的背景，而残留的PCR缓冲液可能会抑制BP反应。使用酚/氯仿抽提，加醋酸铵和乙醇或异丙醇沉淀的标准PCR产物纯化方案不适合对attB-PCR产物进行纯化，因为这些实验方案通常仅能去除小于100 bp的杂质，而在去除较大的引物二聚体时效果不佳。我们推荐一种PEG纯化方案（请参见使用Clonase II的Gateway技术手册第17页）。如果使用上述实验方案您的attB-PCR产物仍然不够纯，您可以进一步对其进行凝胶纯化。我们推荐使用Purelink Quick 凝胶纯化试剂盒。
请检查您所用的菌株的基因型。我们的Gateway目的载体通常含有一个ccdB基因元件，该元件如果不被破坏，则E. Coli生长将受到抑制。因此，未进行克隆的载体应该在ccdB survival菌株如我们的ccdB Survival 2 T1R感受态细胞中扩增。
目的基因必须两端带有合适的att位点，或者是入门克隆中的attL (100 bp)位点，或者是PCR产物中的 attB (25 bp)位点。对于入门克隆而言，所有位于attL位点之间的部分都将被转移到含有attR位点的Gateway目的载体中，而两端带有attB位点的PCR产物需被转移到一个含有attP位点的供体载体，例如pDONR221。
翻译起始位点的位置，终止子，或者用于表达的融合标签必须在最开始的克隆设计中考虑到。例如，如果您的目的载体包含一个N末端标记而非C末端标记，则该载体应当已经带有合适的翻译起始位点，但是终止子应当被包含在插入片段当中。
小抽（碱裂解）纯化的DNA即适用在Gateway克隆反应中。重要的一点是要将RNA污染去除干净以便得到精确的定量。推荐使用通过我们的S.N.A.P. 核酸纯化试剂盒，ChargeSwitch试剂盒，或PureLink试剂盒纯化的质粒DNA。
理论上没有片段大小限制。长度在100 bp到11 kb之间的PCR产物可以被直接克隆到pDONR Gateway载体中。其它DNA片段如带有att位点的150 kb DNA片段可以成功和一个Gateway兼容载体发生重组。对于大的插入片段，推荐进行过夜孵育反应。
请使用推荐的滤波装置对所用荧光进行检测。使用倒置荧光显微镜进行分析。如有需要，可使蛋白表达持续1-3天，再进行荧光检测。
所用目标序列可能与其他基因具有较高的同源性；请选择一个不同的目标区域。
做一个杀死曲线，确定细胞株对抗生素的敏感性。应确保将病毒储液正确保存于-80°C，并且冻融次数不超过3次。最后，使用Polybrene试剂，将重组慢病毒转导至细胞。
应确保所用的感受态细胞被正确保存于-80°C，在冰上融化并立即使用。加入DNA时，轻轻混合感受态细胞：不要使用移液管反复吹打混合。同时，转化所用DNA不要超过最大推荐用量（100 ng），或者DNA加入体积不要超过感受态细胞体积的10%，否则会抑制转化。
有多种因素可导致敲低效果较差。请参见以下建议：
•低转染效率：应确保转染所用培养基不含抗生素，并且细胞的汇合度合适；通过改变转染试剂用量而优化转染条件。
•做一个时间梯度检测，确定达到最高基因敲低水平的时间点。
•重组子中存在突变：对转化子中双链寡核苷酸插入片段进行测序验证。
•目标区域不是最佳的：选择一个不同的目标区域。
•应根据相应使用手册中的指南，设计siRNA。
你可尝试减少转染试剂的用量，或使用其他转染试剂。此外，应确保使用的质粒是纯净的，并为转染实验准备的。
我们强烈建议对阳性转化子进行测序，确认双链寡核苷酸插入片段的序列。在筛选转化子时，我们发现多达20%的克隆可能包含突变的插入片段（通常在双链寡核苷酸中有1或2 bp缺失）。其原因尚不清楚，但可能是由于双链寡核苷酸插入片段中的反向重复序列触发了E. coli的修复机制引起的。注意：双链寡核苷酸插入片段有突变的入门克隆，在哺乳细胞中RNAi效果通常较差。应确认入门克隆具有正确的双链寡核苷酸序列，并将这种克隆用于您的RNAi分析。
使用劣质的单链寡核苷酸也会导致出现突变的插入片段。为避免出现这类问题，可使用质谱分析法来检验质量错误的峰，或订购HPLC或PAGE纯化的寡核苷酸。
•应确认下游寡核苷酸链的序列与上游寡核苷酸链的序列是互补的。
•使用shRNA载体时，应将互补序列的单链寡核苷酸混合。上游寡核苷酸链的5’末端应含有CACC，而下游寡核苷酸链的5’末端应含有AAAA。
•使用miRNA载体时，应确保上游寡核苷酸链的5’末端含有TGCT，而下游寡核苷酸链的5’末端含有CCTG
请查看以下可能原因：
•单链寡核苷酸的设计错误；应确认下游链寡核苷酸的序列与上游链寡核苷酸的序列是互补的。
•在寡核苷酸加热至95°C后，确保在室温下退火5-10分钟。
•应检查退火所用的上游链和下游链寡核苷酸的摩尔比，用量应相同。
通过对载体进行DraI消化和自身环化，形成可表达相同pre-miRNA 的pcDNA6.2-GW/miR克隆。更多详细方案，请参见使用手册第40页。
pcDNA6.2-GW/+EmGFP-miR表达载体包含杀稻瘟菌素（Blasticidin）抗性基因，可对稳定转染pcDNA6.2-GW/+EmGFP-miR重组质粒的哺乳细胞进行杀稻瘟菌素筛选。首先对未转染的哺乳细胞做一个杀伤曲线，然后将您的表达克隆转染进入选定的哺乳细胞系中，使用杀稻瘟菌素选出稳定表达的细胞系。
为建立乱序miR RNAi阴性对照，我们建议在引导链RNA的两端都保留相同的2-3个核苷酸并打乱中间部分，然后通过BLAST找到明显的问题。要建立点突变miR RNA阴性对照，单个碱基改变可能不够，但是如果要这么做的话，最好的突变位置是反义序列的第10或11个核苷酸。
请访问我们的 BLOCK-iT RNAi Designer 并选择miR RNAi作为您的靶标设计选项。该miR RNAi随后可被克隆进入pcDNA6.2-GW/miR和pcDNA6.2/EmGFP-miR载体。
我们认为这个G是必不可少的，因为它是成熟miRNA序列之前的“侧翼”区域中最后一对碱基对（来自鼠miR-155）的一部分。成熟miRNA序列将成为RNAi的引导链。
miRNAs are sometimes expressed in clusters in long primary transcripts driven by RNA Pol II (Lee et al., 2004). Our vectors support chaining of miRNAs to express them in one primary transcript, thus ensuring co-cistronic expression of multiple miRNAs. In the final construct, the original pattern of restriction sites is regenerated, making the construct amenable to multiples rounds of chaining. The figure below shows the principle of chaining two miRNAs, derived from two different miRNA vectors, into one miRNA expression vector. Note: Chaining together miRNAs targeting different genes usually results in slightly reduced knockdown of each gene. Chaining different miRNAs targeting the same gene or repeating one miRNA can enhance knockdown. Due to increased processing, EmGFP expression is attenuated by miRNA chaining. See page 33 of the manual for directions on how to chain pre-miRNAs.
The EmGFP from the pcDNA6.2-GW/EmGFP-miR expression vector has the following excitation and emission wavelengths, as published in the literature (Tsien, 1998): 487 nm and 509 nm, respectively. Detection can be performed using a standard FITC filter set. We recommend Omega XF100.
We would recommend use of our pcDNA6.2GW/EmGFP-miR vector, where EmGFP is expressed co-cistronically with your miRNA of interest. You should see 100% correlation of EmGFP expression with the knockdown activity of your miRNA.
The vectors are designed and optimized for expressing modified miR155 structure, and finally make siRNA for gene targeting using RNAi pathways. Additional optimization might be necessary to express native miRNA. Alternatively, the sequences of native miRNA can be cloned into a standard protein expression vector and inspect for miRNA production. Please see our two suggestions for miRNA overexpression:
1. Use PCR on gDNA to amplify the endogenous pre-miRNA hairpin as well as ~50-80 bp of flanking sequences on each side, then TOPO clone into an expression vector such as one of our pcDNA vectors. This will produce a transcript which contains the pre-miRNA in the context of its natural flanking sequences. This will probably be the best mimic of the endogenous miRNA, because the flanking sequences and precursor have the information needed to correctly process out the mature miRNA. The disadvantage of this technique is that it is somewhat laborious and wouldn't be as amenable to looking at many miRNAs (each one requiring identification of the genomic locus, primer design, and successful PCR).
2. Use the mature miRNA sequence (or the first 21 nucleotides of it) as the “antisense” sequence in Invitrogen's BLOCK-iT Pol II miR RNAi vector system. This technique has been successfully published (see Lee et al., PNAS 2006;103;15669-15674) and is quick and simple for design and cloning.
Using this method, many miRNA vectors could be built the same way. We also have a fairly good understanding that the major product of the miR RNAi vectors has the expected 5' end for the mature miRNA. However, we also know that the 3' end is variable and includes a number of slightly smaller and longer species that can include nucleotides from the loop (GUU…). The 3' end is probably least critical to miRNA function, but there may be some miR:target interactions for which it is important, and we just don't know how closely these mimic endogenous miRNAs.
These vectors can be used for stable expression and the ability to use viral delivery. These miR RNAi vectors include flanking and loop sequences from an endogenous miRNA which directs the excision of the engineered miRNA from a longer Pol II transcript (pri-miRNA). When present in the nucleus, these vectors efficiently use the endogenous cellular machinery to process knockdown sequences that are specifically designed to have 100% homology to your target of interest and will result in target cleavage. In addition, the loop sequence has a unique restriction site, so that it can be linearized for more efficient sequencing, sometimes a challenge with standard shRNA hairpins. The kits offer over 70% knockdown success, easy expression tracking (with co-cistronic expression of Green Fluorescent Protein), multiple target knockdown, and constitutive or inducible expression.
There is no theoretical limit to insert size for a BP reaction with a pDONR vector. Maximum size tested in-house is 12 kb. TOPO vectors are more sensitive to insert size and 3-5 kb is the upper limit for decent cloning efficiency.
After generating your attB-PCR product, we recommend purifying it to remove PCR buffer, unincorporated dNTPs, attB primers, and any attB primer-dimers. Primers and primer-dimers can recombine efficiently with the Donor vector in the BP reaction and may increase background after transformation into E. coli, whereas leftover PCR buffer may inhibit the BP reaction. Standard PCR product purification protocols using phenol/chloroform extraction followed by ammonium acetate and ethanol or isopropanol precipitation are not recommended for purification of the attB-PCR product as these protocols generally have exclusion limits of less than 100 bp and do not efficiently remove large primer-dimer products. We recommend a PEG purification protocol (see page 17 of the Gateway Technology with Clonase II manual). If you use the above protocol and your attB-PCR product is still not suitably purified, you may further gel-purify the product. We recommend using the PureLink Quick Gel Extraction kit.
Check the genotype of the cell strain you are using. Our Gateway destination vectors typically contain a ccdB cassette, which, if uninterrupted, will inhibit E. coli growth. Therefore, un-cloned vectors should be propagated in a ccdB survival cell strain, such as our ccdB Survival 2 T1R competent cells.
LR Clonase II Plus contains an optimized formulation of recombination enzymes for use in MultiSite Gateway LR reactions. LR Clonase and LR Clonase II enzyme mixes are not recommended for MultiSite Gateway LR recombination reactions, but LR Clonase II Plus is compatible with both multi-site and single-site LR recombination reactions.
The BLOCK-iT miR RNAi expression system allows you to take advantage of promoter flexibility by choosing from a variety of Pol II promoters like CMV, Ubc, tissue specific, or inducible promoters. The miRNA vectors also allow you to clone multiple sequences in the same vector, thereby enabling you to target more than one gene or more than one location in a gene using a single plasmid. An additional advantage offered by some of the miRNA expression vectors is that transfection efficiency can be monitored with the EmGFP fusion partner.
Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our RNAi Support Center.
We offer a free online RNAi design program to help you design an effective miRNA sequence. The RNAi designer can be found at https://rnaidesigner.invitrogen.com/rnaiexpress/, or search "RNAi Designer" from the homepage of thermofisher.com.
Yes. The miRNA cloning vectors are designed such that you can easily chain together multiple miRNAs to express them in one transcript. This can be used to increase transcription levels of the same miRNA sequence, or to combine multiple different sequences in one co-cistronic expression cassette.
Yes. The miR miRNA vectors are Gateway cloning compatible, and you could use Gateway cloning to transfer the miR miRNA expression cassette to any of our Gateway-adapted viral expression vectors.
The miRNA vectors use endogenous miRNA processing machinery to allow targeted RNAi knockdown of specific genes, but they are not tested for use in the analysis of endogenous miRNA. Endogenous miRNAs are typically not 100% homologous to their targets and thus invoke translational suppression. Our products are designed with 100% homology to the target gene and generally result in target mRNA cleavage.
Both systems are used for gene targeting or gene knockdown but each has distinctive features. The shRNA expression vectors like pENTR/U6 or pENTR/H1-TO use Pol III promoters, whereas the miRNA expression vectors are flexible to use more common and more processive Pol II promoters like CMV, EF1 or other mammalian expression promoters. You can only clone a single shRNA sequence into an shRNA vector to target a single gene, whereas multiple miRNA sequences can be cloned together into an miRNA vector to target one or more genes, or multiple locations in a gene. An additional feature of the miRNA expression vectors is that, due to use of Pol II promoters, the miRNA can be expressed directly in fusion with a reporter gene like EmGFP to monitor transfection and transcription.
Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our RNAi Support Center.
All the BLOCK-iT miR RNAi expression vectors are Gateway-adapted and contain the CMV promoter. If more specialized expression is required with a different promoter, the miRNA vectors allow for easy recombination with any other suitable destination vector that Thermo Fisher Scientific offers. A wide variety of Gateway Destination vectors that contain promoters such as EF-1apha or Ubc are available, and all be used for miRNA expression. MultiSite Gateway Technology vectors are also available which will enable you to use a tissue-specific promoter or a promoter of your choice to express miRNA.
When the LR reaction is complete, the reaction is stopped with Proteinase K and transformed into E. coli resulting in an expression clone containing a gene of interest. A typical LR reaction followed by Proteinase K treatment yields about 35,000 to 150,000 colonies per 20ul reaction. Without the Proteinase K treatment, up to a 10 fold reduction in the number of colonies can be observed. Despite this reduction, there are often still enough colonies containing the gene of interest to proceed with your experiment, so the Proteinase K step can be left out after the LR reaction is complete if necessary.
In most cases, there will not be enough pENTR vector DNA present to go directly from TOPO cloning into an LR reaction. You need between 100-300 ng of pENTR vector for an efficient LR reaction, and miniprep of a colony from the TOPO transformation is necessary to obtain that much DNA. However, if you want to try it, here are some recommendations for attempting to go straight into LR reactions from the TOPO reaction using pENTR/D, or SD TOPO, or pCR8/GW/TOPO vectors:
1. Heat inactivate the topoisomerase after the TOPO cloning reaction by incubating the reaction at 85 degrees C for 15 minutes.
2. Use the entire reaction (6 µL) in the LR clonase reaction. No purification steps are necessary.
3. Divide the completed LR reaction into 4 tubes and carry out transformations with each tube. You cannot transform entire 20 µL reaction in one transformation, and we have not tried ethanol precipitation and then a single transformation.
When attempting this protocol, we observed very low efficiencies (~10 colonies/plate). So just be aware that while technically possible, going directly into an LR reaction from a TOPO reaction is very inefficient and will result in a very low colony number, if any at all.
To have an N-terminal tag, the gene of interest must be in the correct reading frame when using non-TOPO adapted Gateway entry vectors. All TOPO adapted Gateway Entry vectors will automatically put the insert into the correct reading frame, and to add the N-terminal tag you simply recombine with a destination vector that has N-terminal tag.
To attach a C-terminal tag to your gene of interest, the insert must lack its stop codon, and be in the correct reading frame for compatibility with our C-terminal tagged destination vectors. Again, TOPO adapted Gateway Entry vectors will automatically put the insert into the correct reading frame. If you do not want the C-terminal tag to be expressed, simply include a stop codon at the end of the insert that is in frame with the initial ATG.
Generally, you need to choose a destination vector before you design and clone your insert into the Entry vector. This will determine whether you need to include an initiating ATG or stop codon with your insert.
No, not directly. The attB-PCR product must first be cloned, via a BP Clonase reaction, into a pDONR vector which creates an "Entry Clone" with attL sites. This clone can then be recombined, via an LR Clonase reaction, with a Destination vector containing attR sites. However, It is possible to perform both of these reactions in one step using the "One-Tube Protocol" described in the manual entitled "Gateway Technology with Clonase II".
Yes, this can be done using the Multisite Gateway Technology. MultiSite Gateway Pro Technology enables you to efficiently and conveniently assemble multiple DNA fragments - including genes of interest, promoters, and IRES sequences - in the desired order and orientation into a Gateway Expression vector. Using specifically designed att sites for recombinational cloning, you can clone two, three, or four DNA fragments into any Gateway Destination vector containing attR1 and attR2 sites. The resulting expression clone is ready for downstream expression and analysis applications.
For the BP reaction, approximately 5-10% of the starting material is converted into product. For the LR reaction, approximately 30% of the starting material is converted into product.
The core region of the att sites contains the recognition sequence for the restriction enzyme BsrGI. Provided there are no BsrGI sites in the insert, this enzyme can be used to excise the full gene from most Gateway plasmids. The BsrGI recognition site is 5'-TGTACA and is found in both att sites flanking the insertion site.
If a different restriction site is desired, the appropriate sequence should be incorporated into your insert by PCR.
We do have an alternative method called the "attB Adapter PCR" Protocol in which you make your gene specific primer with only 12 additional attB bases and use attB universal adapter primers. This protocol allows for shorter primers to amplify attB-PCR products by utilizing four primers instead of the usual two in a PCR reaction. You can find the sequence of these primers in the protocol on page 45 of the "Gateway Technology with Clonase II" manual.
There is a protocol in which all 4 primers mentioned above are in a single PCR reaction. You can find this protocol at in the following article: Quest vol. 1, Issue 2, 2004. https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/references/newsletters-and-journals/quest-archive.reg.in.html. The best ratio of the first gene-specific and the second attB primers was 1:10.
We do not offer pre-made primers, but we can recommend the following sequences that can be ordered as custom primers for sequencing of pDONR201:
Forward primer, proximal to attL1: 5'- TCGCGTTAACGCTAGCATGGATCTC
Reverse primer, proximal to attL2: 5'-GTAACATCAGAGATTTTGAGACAC
1. Yeast two-hybrid protein-protein interaction studies Walhout AJ, Sordella R, Lu X, Hartley JL, Temple GF, Brasch MA, Thierry-Mieg N, Vidal M.
2. Protein Interaction Mapping in C. elegans Using Proteins Involved in Vulval Development. Science Jan 7th 2000; 287(5450), 116-122 Davy, A. et al.
3. A protein-protein interaction map of the Caenorhabditis elegans 26S proteosome. EMBO Reports (2001) 2 (9), p. 821-828. Walhout, A.J.M. and Vidal, M. (2001).
4. High-throughput Yeast Two-Hybrid Assays for Large-Scale Protein Interaction mapping. Methods: A Companion to Methods in Enzymology 24(3), pp.297-306
5. Large Scale Analysis of Protein Complexes Gavin, AC et al. Functional Organization of the Yeast Proteome by Systematic Analysis of Protein Complexes. Nature Jan 10th 2002, 415, p. 141-147.
6. Systematic subcellular localisation of proteins Simpson, J.C., Wellenreuther, R., Poustka, A., Pepperkok, R. and Wiemann, S.
7. Systematic subcellular localization of novel proteins identified by large-scale cDNA sequencing. EMBO Reports (2000) 1(3), pp. 287-292.
8. Protein-over expression and crystallography Evdokimov, A.G., Anderson, D.E., Routzahn, K.M. & Waugh, D.S.
9. Overproduction, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of YopM, an essential virulence factor extruded by the plague bacterium Yersinia pestis. Acta Crystallography (2000) D56, 1676-1679.
10. Evdokimov, et al. Structure of the N-terminal domain of Yersinia pestis YopH at 2.0 A resolution. Acta Crystallographica D57, 793-799 (2001).
11. Lao, G. et al. Overexpression of Trehalose Synthase and Accumulation of Intracellular Trehalose in 293H and 293FTetR:Hyg Cells. Cryobiology 43(2):106-113 (2001).
12. High-throughput cloning and expression Albertha J. M. Walhout, Gary F. Temple, Michael A. Brasch, James L. Hartley, Monique A. Lorson, Sander Van Den Huevel, and Marc Vidal.
13. Gateway Recombinational Cloning: Application to the Cloning of Large Numbers of Open Reading Frames or ORFeomes. Methods in Enzymology, Vol. 328, 575-592.
14. Wiemann, S. et.al., Toward a Catalog of Human Genes and Proteins: Sequencing and Analysis of 500 Novel Complete Protein Coding Human cDNAs, Genome Research (March 2001) Vol. 11, Issue 3, pp.422-435
15. Reviewed in NATURE: Free Access to cDNA provides impetus to gene function work. 15 march 2001, p. 289. Generating directional cDNA libraries using recombination
16. Osamu Ohara and Gary F. Temple. Directional cDNA library construction assisted by the in vitro recombination reaction. Nucleic Acids Research 2001, Vol. 29, no. 4. RNA interference (RNAi)
17. Varsha Wesley, S. et al. Construct design for efficient, effective and highthroughput gene silencing in plants. The Plant Journal 27(6), 581-590 (2001). Generation of retroviral constructs
18. Loftus S K et al. Generation of RCAS vectors useful for functional genomic analyses. DNA Res 31;8(5):221 (2001).
19. James L. Hartley, Gary F. Temple and Michael A. Brasch. DNA Cloning Using In Vitro Site-Specific Recombination. Genome Research (2000) 10(11), pp. 1788-1795.
20. Reboul et al. Open-reading frame sequence tags (OSTs) support the existence of at least 17,300 genes in C. elegans. Nature Genetics 27(3):332-226 (2001).
21. Kneidinger, B. et al. Identification of two GDP-6-deoxy-D-lyxo-4-hexulose reductase synthesizing GDP-D-rhamnose in Aneurinibacillus thermoaerophilus L420-91T*. JBC 276(8) (2001).
The attP1 sequence (pDONR) is:
AATAATGATT TTATTTTGAC TGATAGTGAC CTGTTCGTTG CAACAAATTG ATGAGCAATGCTTTTTTAT AATGCCAACT TTGTACAAAA AAGC[TGAACG AGAAACGTAA AATGATATAA ATATCAATAT ATTAAATTAG ATTTTGCATA AAAAACAGACTA CATAATACTG TAAAACACAA CATATCCAGT CACTATGAAT CAACTACTTA GATGGTATTA GTGACCTGTA]
The region within brackets is where the site is "cut" and replaced by the attB1-fragment sequence to make an attL1 site. The sequence GTACAAA is the overlap sequence present in all att1 sites and is always "cut" right before the first G.
The overlap sequence in attP2 sites is CTTGTAC and cut before C. This is attP2:
ACAGGTCACT AATACCATCT AAGTAGTTGA TTCATAGTGA CTGGATATGT TGTGTTTTAC AGTATTATGT AGTCTGTTTT TTATGCAAAA TCTAATTTAA TATATTGATA TTTATATCAT TTTACGTTTC TCGTTCAGCT TTCTTGTACA AAGTTGGCAT TATAAGAAAG CATTGCTTAT AATTTGTTG CAACGAACAG GTCACTATCA GTCAAAATAA AATCATTATT
So, attL1 (Entry Clone) should be:
A ATAATGATTT TATTTTGACT GATAGTGACC TGTTCGTTGC AACAAATTGA TGAGCAATGC TTTTTTATAA TGCCAACT TT G TAC AAA AAA GC[A GGC T]NN NNN
attL2 (Entry Clone) should be:
NNN N[AC C]CA GCT TT CTTGTACA AAGTTGGCAT TATAAGAAAG CATTGCTTAT CAATTTGTTG CAACGAACAG GTCACTATCA GTCAAAATAA AATCATTATT
The sequence in brackets comes from attB, and N is your gene-specific sequence.
Note: When creating an Entry Clone through the BP reaction and a PCR product, the vector backbone is not the same as Gateway Entry vectors. The backbone in the case of PCR BP cloning is pDONR201.
There is no size restriction on the PCR fragments if they are cloned into a pDONR vector. The upper limit for efficient cloning into a TOPO adapted Gateway Entry vector is approximately 5 kb. A Gateway recombination reaction can occur between DNA fragments that are as large as 150 kb.
Destination vectors that contain N-terminal fusion partners will express proteins that contain amino acids contributed from the attB1 site, which is 25 bases long. This means that in addition to any tag (6x His and/or antibody epitope tag), the N-terminus of an expressed protein will contain an additional 9 amino acids from the attB1 sequence - the typical amino acid sequence is Thr-Ser-Leu-Tyr-Lys-Lys-Ala-Gly-nnn, where nnn will depend on the codon sequence of the insert.
Effects on protein function: A researcher (Simpson et al. EMBO Reports 11(31):287-292, 2000) demonstrated that GFP fusions (N- terminal and C-terminal) localized to the proper intracellular compartment. The expression constructs were generated using Gateway cloning, so the recombinant protein contained the attB1 or attB2 amino acid sequence. The localization function of the cloned recombinant proteins was preserved.
Effects on expression: We have seen no effect of the attB sites on expression levels in E. coli, insect and mammalian cells. The gus gene was cloned into bacterial expression vectors (for native and N-terminal fusion protein expression) using standard cloning techniques and expressed in bacteria. Gus was also cloned into Gateway Destination vectors (for native and N-terminal fusion expression) and expressed. When protein expression is compared, there was no difference in the amount of protein produced. This demonstrates that for this particular case, the attB sites do not interfere with transcription or translation.
Effects on solubility: A researcher at the NCI has shown that Maltose Binding Protein fusions constructed with Gateway Cloning were soluble. The fusion proteins expressed had the attB amino acid sequence between the Maltose Binding Protein and the cloned protein. It is possible that some proteins containing the attB sequence could remain insoluble when expressed in E.coli.
Effects on folding: Two Hybrids screens show the same interacters identified with and without the attB sequence. Presumably correct protein folding would be required for protein-protein interactions to take place. It is possible that some proteins containing the attB sequence may not fold correctly.
Since the attB sequences are on the 5' end of oligos, they will not anneal to the target template in the first round of PCR. Sometimes the PCR product is more specific with the attB primers, probably due to the longer annealing sequence (all of attB plus gene specific sequence) after the first round of amplification. Generally there is no need to change PCR reaction conditions when primers have the additional attB sequence
No, this is not really feasible due to the fact that the attL sequence is approximately 100 bp, which is too long for efficient oligo synthesis. Our own maximum sequence length for ordering custom primers is 100 nucleotides. In contrast, the attB sequences are only 25 bp long, which is a very reasonable length for adding onto the 5' end of gene-specific PCR primers.
Vector information can be found in the product manuals or directly on our web site by entering the catalog number of the product in the search box. The vector map, cloning site diagram, and sequence information will be linked to the product page.
The Gateway nomenclature is consistent with lambda nomenclature, but we use numbers to differentiate between modified versions of the att sites (attB1, attB2, attP1, attP2, and so on). We have introduced mutations in the att sites to provide specificity and directionality to the recombination reaction. For example, attB1 will only recombine with attP1 and not with attP2.
The first step is to create an Entry clone for your gene of interest. We have 3 options to do this: The first is by BP recombination reaction using the PCR Cloning System with Gateway Technology. This is recommended for cloning large (>5 kb) PCR products. We also have Gateway compatible TOPO Cloning vectors such as pCR8/GW/TOPO and pENTR/D-TOPO. The final option is to use restriction enzymes to clone into a pENTR Dual Selection vector.
The gene of interest must be flanked by the appropriate att sites, either attL (100 bp) in an Entry clone or attB (25 bp) in a PCR product. For Entry clones, everything between the attL sites will be shuttled into the Gateway destination vector containing attR sites, and a PCR product flanked by attB sites must be shuttled into an attP-containing donor vector such as pDONR221.
The location of translation initiation sites, stop codons, or fusion tags for expression must be considered in your initial cloning design. For example, if your destination vector contains an N-terminal tag but does not have a C-terminal tag, the vector should already contain the appropriate translation start site but the stop codon should be included in your insert.
Yes, increasing the incubation time from 1 hour to 4 hours will generally increase colony numbers 2-3 fold. An overnight incubation at room temperature will typically increase colony yield by 5-10 fold.
BP Clonase II and LR Clonase II can be freeze/thawed at least 10 times without significant loss of activity. However, you may still want to aliquot the enzymes to keep freeze/thaw variability to a minimum.
These enzymes are more stable than the original BP and LR Clonase and can be stored at -20 degrees C for 6 months.
Mini-prep (alkaline lysis) DNA preparations work well in Gateway cloning reactions. It is important that the procedure remove contaminating RNA for accurate quantification. Plasmid DNA purified with our S.N.A.P. nucleic acid purification kits, ChargeSwitch kits, or PureLink kits are recommended.
A simple way to express a protein with a leader sequence is to have the leader sequence encoded in the destination vector. The other option is to have the leader sequence subcloned into the entry vector using restriction enzymes, or incorporate the leader sequence into the forward PCR primer when cloning a PCR product into the entry vector. Please see Esposito et al. (2005), Prot. Exp. & Purif. 40, 424-428 for an example of how a partial leader sequence for secretion was incorporated into an entry vector.
This depends on whether you are expressing a fusion or a native protein in the Gateway destination vector. For an N-terminal fusion protein the ATG will be given by the destination vector and it will be upstream of the attB1 site. For a C-terminal fusion protein or a native protein, the ATG should be provided by your gene of interest, and it will be downstream of the attB1 site.
The Gateway attB sites are derived from the bacteriophage lambda site-specific recombination, but are modified to remove stop codons and reduce secondary structure. The core regions have also been modified for specificity (i.e., attB1 will recombine with attP1 but not with attP2).
Expression experiments have shown that the extra amino acids contributed by the attB site to a fusion protein will most likely have no effect on protein expression levels or stability. In addition, they do not appear to have any effect on two-hybrid interactions in yeast. However, as is true with the addition of any extra sequences that result from tags, the possible effects will be protein-dependent.
No, attB primers are highly specific under standard PCR conditions. We have amplified from RNA (RT-PCR), cDNA libraries, genomic DNA, and plasmid templates without any specificity problems.
The smallest size we have recombined is a 70 bp piece of DNA located between the att sites. Very small pieces are difficult to clone since they negatively influence the topology of the recombination reaction.
There is no theoretical size limitation. PCR products between 100 bp and 11 Kb have been readily cloned into a pDONR Gateway vector. Other DNA pieces as large as 150 kb with att sites will successfully recombine with a Gateway-compatible vector. Overnight incubation is recommended for large inserts.
Standard desalted purity is generally sufficient for creating attB primers. We examined HPLC-purified oligos for Gateway cloning (about 50 bp long) and found only about a 2-fold increase in colony number over standard desalted primers. If too few colonies are obtained, you may try to increase the amount of PCR product used and/or incubate the BP reaction overnight.
Please ensure that the recommended filter sets for detection of fluorescence are used. Use an inverted fluorescence microscope for analysis. If desired, allow the protein expression to continue for 1-3 days before assaying for fluorescence.
The target sequence used may contain strong homology to other genes; please select a different target region.
Perform a kill curve to determine the antibiotic sensitivity of your cell line. Ensure that viral stocks are stored properly at -80 degrees C, and do not undergo freeze/thaw more than 3 times. Lastly, transducer the lentiviral contruct into cells in the presence of Polybrene reagent.
Ensure that the competent cells used were stored properly at -80 degrees C, and thawed on ice for immediate use. When adding DNA, mix competent cells gently: do not mix by pipetting up and down. Also do not exceed the maximum recommended amount of DNA for transformation (100 ng) or allow the volume of DNA added to exceed 10% of the volume of the competent cells, as these may inhibit the transformation.
Low expression levels can be due to several factors. Please see the suggestions below:
- Low transfection efficiency: ensure that antibiotics are not added to the media during transfection, and that cells are at the proper cell confluency; optimize transfection conditions by varying the amount of transfection reagent used.
- Try a time course assay to determine the point at which the highest degree of gene knockdown occurs.
- Mutations are present in your construct: analyze the transformants by sequencing the ds oligo insert to verify its sequence.
- Target region is not optimal: select a different target region.
- Ensure siRNA is designed according to guidelines listed in the respective manual.
Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our RNAi Support Center.
You can try to scale back the amount of transfection reagent used, or use a different reagent for the transfection. Additionally, ensure that the plasmid used is pure and properly prepared for transfection.
Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our RNAi Support Center.
We highly recommend sequencing positive transformants to confirm the sequence of the ds oligo insert. When screening transformants, we find that up to 20% of the clones may contain mutated inserts (generally 1 or 2 bp deletions within the ds oligo). The reason for this is not known, but may be due to triggering of repair mechanisms within E. coli as a result of the inverted repeat sequence within the ds oligo insert. Note: Entry clones containing mutated ds oligo inserts generally elicit a poor RNAi response in mammalian cells. Identify entry clones with the correct ds oligo sequence and use these clones for your RNAi analysis.
Mutated inserts could also be caused by using poor-quality single-stranded oligos. Use mass spectrometry to check for peaks of the wrong mass, or order HPLC- or PAGE-purified oligos to avoid this problem.
- Verify that the sequence of the bottom-strand oligo is complementary to the sequence of the top-strand oligo.
- For the shRNA vectors, make sure that you mix single-stranded oligos with complementary sequences. The top-strand oligo should include CACC on the 5' end, while the bottom-strand oligo should include AAAA on the 5' end.
- For the miRNA vectors, make sure that the top-strand oligo includes TGCT at the 5' end and that the bottom-strand oligo includes CCTG at the 5' end.
Please review the possibilities below:
- Single-stranded oligos designed incorrectly; verify that the sequence of the bottom-strand oligo is complementary to the sequence of the top strand oligo.
- Ensure that oligos are annealed at room temp for 5-10 minutes after heating to 95 degrees C.
- Check the molar ratio you are using for annealing top and bottom-strand oligo; equal amounts should be used.
Perform a DraI digestion and self ligation of the vector to form a pcDNA6.2-GW/miR clone expressing the same pre-miRNA. See page 40 of the manual for a more detailed protocol.
The pcDNA6.2-GW/+EmGFP-miR expression construct contains the Basticidin resistance gene to allow for Blasticidin selection of mammalian cells that are stably trnasfected with the pcDNA6.2-GW/+EmGFP-miR construct. Start by performing a kill curve on your untransfected mammalian cells, followed by transfection of your expression clone into the mammalian cell line of choice and selecting for stable cell lines using Blasticidin.
Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our RNAi Support Center.
In order to create a scramble miR RNAi negative control we recommend keeping 2-3 nt on each end of the guide RNA the same and scrambling the middle, then conducting BLAST to look for obvious problems. In order to create a point mutation miR RNA negative control, a single change may not be enough, but the best place to put it would be at nt 10 or 11 of the antisense sequence.
Please visit our BLOCK-iT RNAi Designer and select miR RNAi as your target design option. This miR RNAi can then be cloned into the pcDNA6.2-GW/miR and pcDNA6.2/EmGFP-miR vectors.
We would expect this G to be critical, as it is part of the last base pair in the “flanking” region (derived from mouse miR-155) before the start of the mature miRNA. The mature miRNA sequence will act as the guide strand for the RNAi.