M W F; 10:10 - 11:00 pm

 Molecular Biology

 Douglas W. Smith

York 2722

 BIMM 100

 5254 Muir Biology Building

Fall, 2000  

 x42620; dsmith@ucsd.edu

 

 

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3. Genome Fragment Isolation: Cloning

and

High Resolution Physical Mapping of Genomes

 

Outline:

A. Cloning of DNA Fragments
1. Two Essential parts of Cloning
a. Cloning Vehicle
b. DNA of Interest
2. Cloning Methodology
B. Types of Cloning Vehicles
1. Plasmids
2. Phage Lambda
a. Lambda Life Cycle - Lysis vs Lysogeny
3. Cosmids - Plasmids with Lambda cos site
4. YACs - Yeast Artificial Chromosomes
5. PACs and BACs
C. Genome Types of Cloning Experiments
1. Gene Isolation - Reverse Genetics
2. Genome Cloning - Genome Libraries
3. Mapping from Cloning: Sequence Tagged Sites (STSs)
4. cDNA Cloning - Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs)
D. Radiation Hybrids
1. Mapping from Radiation Hybrids: STSs
E. Other Types of Cloning Experiments
1. Site Specific Mutagenesis
2. Protein Production - Bacterial Factories
 

 

 

A. Cloning of DNA fragments:

Recombinant DNA technology and the properties of Type II R.enzymes provided the breakthrough needed to isolate pieces of genomes, including intact genes. This is the process of cloning of DNA fragments.

 

1. Two essential parts of Cloning: Cloning Vehicle and DNA of interest

a. Cloning Vehicle or Vector: ... [Brown, Tech Notes 3.4, part 2]

a. A DNA molecule with all elements for Self-Duplication: Replicon
An Origin for DNA Replication ... [Brown, p. 307 ff]

b. means for Selection in a Host: often Antibiotic-Resistance Gene

c. unique R.sites NOT in the Origin and not in the Selection Gene ...
Example: Polylinker or Multiple Cloning Region (MCR) ... [Brown, Tech Notes 3.4]
Such contains a variety of R.sites suitable for cloning; these R.sites are present ONLY in the Polylinker or MCR ....

d. often Selection / Screen for Insert, eg disruption of LacZ assay
in Plasmid vehicles => white colonies on "Xgal" plates


 

b. DNA of interest ... [Brown, Tech Notes 3.4, part 1]
Examples:
a. R.fragments of complete Genome
b. R.fragments from Chimeric DNA, eg from YAC for Plasmids: SubCloning
c. R.fragments purified from a gel, from a purified chromosome, etc
d. Genome fragments made by shearing genomic DNA, followed by creating blunt ends by limited exonuclease digestion.

 

 

2. Cloning Methodology: ... [Brown, Tech Notes 3.4, part 1]

1. Cut the Cloning Vehicle with R.enzyme of choice, eg EcoRI
2. Cut DNA of interest with same R.enzyme
... or R.enzyme yielding same sticky ends, e.g. BamHI and Sau3A ... [Brown, Tech Notes 3.1]
3. Mix the restricted Cloning Vehicle and DNA of Interest R.fragments together.
4. Ligate fragments together: DNA ligase ... usually T4 DNA ligase [Brown, Tech Notes 4.2]

NOTE the "sticky ends" generated by the R.enzyme find each other,
facilitate the ligation ... although "blunt end ligation" is often used

5. Insert ligated DNA into host of choice, eg transformation of E. coli
Ca++ treated cells ... electroporation

6. Grow host cells under restrictive conditions,
e.g. E. coli grown on plates containing Antibiotic


NOTE: The "cloning" of the DNA is the duplication of the ligated DNA
during growth and "cloning" of the host, e.g. colony of bacteria ...

All the bacteria within a colony are clones, i.e. the bacteria are identical copies of each other.

Incredible breakthrough: can create Chimeric DNA molecules !!
can clone DNA from any source into almost any host organism !!!


 

B. Types of Cloning Vehicles

Examples of Cloning Vehicles:

1. Plasmids: ColE1 based ... pUC vehicles ... [Brown, Tech Notes 3.4]
commercially available ones, eg pGEM3, pBlueScript

Purpose:
Routine cloning of relatively small inserts: 100 bp - 15 kb or so

Features:
Plasmid cloning vehicles must have 1) origin, 2) cloning sites, and 3) selection marker:

1. Plasmids are extrachromosomal elements or replicons:
They are self-replicating DNA molecules.
The only genetic requirement for a DNA molecule to be self-replicating is that it contain an origin of DNA replication appropriate for the host in which it would propogate.

Examples of origins of DNA replication: ... [Brown, p. 307 ff]
a. oriC - the E. coli chromosomal origin of DNA replication
b. ori - naturally occuring plasmid origin found on E. coli ColE1 types, eg pMB9, of plasmids
... commonly used in cloning vehicles which use E. coli as host
c. ARS - Autonomously Replicating Sequences ... sequences from any eukaryote that function as origins on plasmids propogated in yeast ... used in YACs

2. For plasmids to function as cloning vehicles or vectors, they must also have:

a. Cloning sites ... unique restriction sites within the plasmid ... ... [Brown, Tech Notes 3.4]
Polylinkers or Multiple Cloning Sites (MCS) - region containing many restriction sites, each of which is present ONLY in the polylinker, not elsewhere on the plasmid
... commonly found in commercially available plasmid vectors, e.g. pGEM3, pBlueScript

b. Selection locus ... method for selection of host cells containing the plasmid
Examples: ... [Brown, Tech Notes 3.4]
1) Antibiotic resistance - genes that confer resistance to ampicilin (amp), tetracycline (tet), kanamycin (kan), chloramphenicol (cat), etc ... select by growing IN PRESENCE of antibiotic
2) Auxotrophic marker - genes that permit growth IN ABSENCE of metabolite using a host that is auxotrophic (mutant) for the gene, e.g. TRP or PYR genes in pYAC2 in Journal Article 1, with use of yeast host that is trp- ura-

 

2. Viral DNA, eg Phage Lambda derivatives, eg lambda gt10 and lambda gt11
... [Brown, Tech Notes 4.3]

Purpose:
1. Cloning of same size to larger inserts than plasmids:

  • Insert lambda vectors: just add DNA to the lambda vector
  • insert sizes of 100 - 10 kb
  • Replacement lambda vectors: replace lambda DNA ("replacement region") with insert
  • insert sizes of 15 - 25 kb
  • 2. Advantages of Lambda for cloning:

  • In vitro packaging:
  • Strong selection for insert
  • Strong selection for large insert of correct size: packaging of "headfuls" of DNA
  • Result of cloning: progeny phage
  • Easily maintained and stored in solution at 4 C
  • Ease of identifying specific DNA sequences from "library" of clones
  • Plaque hybridization methodology - can detect plaque of interest among 5000 per plate
  • Features:
    Phage lambda
    is a bacteriophage or phage, i.e. bacterial virus, that uses E. coli as host.

    Its structure is that of a typical phage: head, tail, tail fibers, head contains the genome
    Lambda viral genome:
    48.5 kb linear DNA with a 12 base ssDNA "sticky end" at both ends; these ends are complementary in sequence and can hybridize to each other (this is the cos site: cohesive ends).

    Infection: lambda tail fibers adsorb to a cell surface receptor, the tail contracts, and the DNA is injected. The DNA circularizes at the cos site, and lambda begins its life cycle in the E. coli host.

     

    Lambda Life Cycle:
    Depending on the nutrient environment of the E. coli host, lambda can enter one of two life cycles:

    1. Lytic Phase:
    In this phase, DNA replication occurs and progeny lambda heads and tails are made.
    Progeny lambda DNA molecules are inserted into empty lambda heads and tails are joined, yielding progeny, infective lambda phage particles.
    A phage encoded lysozyme enzymatically lyses the E. coli host "from within", breaking apart the cell surface, and releasing the progeny phage

    DNA replication first proceeds by a "theta mechanism", in which the circular lambda DNA replicates from a unique origin bidirectionally around the molecule, yielding daughter DNA molecules... [Brown, Fig 12.6]

    Late in infection, lambda DNA replication switches to a "rolling circle" mode of DNA replication, during which a single origin is used and long DNA concatemers are produced: long tandem repeats of the lambda DNA genome...[Brown, Box 12.1]

    These concatemers are used to fill empty lambda heads during the phage assembly process.


    2. Lysogenic Phase:
    In this phase, the lambda DNA genome entering the E. coli host cell is integrated into the E. coli chromosome at a specific site, the lambda attachment site.

    When so integrated, the lambda DNA is called the prophage
    and the E. coli cell is said to be a lysogenic cell or "in the lysogenic state".

    The lambda prophage will occasionally spontaneously excise from the E. coli chromosome and the lambda DNA will then proceed through the lytic cycle.

    This prophage excision can also be induced by UV light.


    Lambda as a Cloning Vehicle: ... [Brown, Tech Notes 4.3]
    Most lambda cloning experiments require ONLY the lytic phase of the lambda life cycle.
    Hence the lambda genes required for the Lysogenic Phase as "dispensable" for cloning.
    These "dispensable" genes constitute the replaceable region in lambda cloning.

     

    3. Cosmids: Plasmid Cloning Vehicle with Lambda cos sites ... [Brown, Tech Notes 4.3]

    Purpose:
    1. Clone large inserts of DNA: size ~ 45 kb

    Features:
    Cosmids are Plasmids with one or two Lambda Cos sites
    Presence of the Cos site permits in vitro packaging of cosmid DNA into Lambda particles ...

    Thus, have some advantages of Phage Lambda as Cloning Vehicle:
    1. strong selection for cloning of large inserts: packaging of "headfuls" of DNA
    2. Infection process rather than transformation for entry of chimeric DNA into E. coli host
    3. maintain Cosmids as phage particles in solution in the refrigerator

    But Cosmids are Plasmids:
    Thus do NOT form plaques ... but rather cloning proceeds via E. coli colony formation

     

    4. YACs: Yeast Artificial Chromosomes ... Journal Article 1 ... [Brown, Fig 4.12]

    Purpose:
    1. Cloning Vehicles that propogate in eukaryotic cell hosts as Eukaryotic Chromosomes
    2. Clone VERY large inserts of DNA: 100 kb - 10 Mb

    Features:
    YAC Cloning Vehicles are plasmids ...
    Final chimeric DNA is a linear DNA molecule with Telomeric ends: Artificial Chromosome

    Need on the Vector:
    1. ARS - Autonomously Replicating Sequence: eukaryotic origin of DNA replication
    2. Selection markers, e.g. trp and ura genes, for each "arm" of the YAC
    3. CEN - CENtromeric sequences: provide stability of YAC segregation during mitosis

    Operationally:
    Cloning vehicle is Circular since it is a Plasmid
    Thus, need to use two R.enzymes during cloning, to generate cloning site and to expose the Telomeric ends: this generates the two "arms" of the YAC
    Need then to select for BOTH arms of the YAC

    Additional features:
    1. often have a selection for an insert
    2. YAC cloning vehicles often have a bacterial origin of DNA replication (ori) and a selection marker for propogation of the YAC through bacteria.
    Result: the YAC can use both yeast and bacteria as a Host

     

    5. Other Cloning Vehicles: PACs and BACs ...[Brown, p. 75]

    a. PACs - P1-derived Artificial Chromosomes

    E. coli bacteriophage P1 is similar phage lambda in that it can exist in E. coli in a prophage state. However, unlike lambda, prophage P1 exists in the E. coli cell as a plasmid, NOT integrated into the E. coli chromosome. The size of P1 in this prophage plasmid state can be very large, and P1 cloning vehicles have been constructed that permit cloning of large DNA fragments, with cloning and propogation of the chimeric DNA as a P1 plasmid inside E. coli cells. These plasmid PACs can contain DNA inserts of size up to a few hundred kb of DNA.

     

    b. BACs - Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes

    These chimeric DNA molecules use a naturally-occurring low-copy number bacterial plasmid origin of replication, such as that of F-plasmid in E. coli, in the cloning vehicle. As such the cloning vehicle that can be cloned as a plasmid in a bacterial host, and its natural stability generally permits that cloning of large pieces of insert DNA, i.e. up to a few hundred kb of DNA.

     

    C. Genome Types of Cloning Experiments:

    1. Gene Isolation - Reverse Genetics

    Assays:
    i) Complementation of Host Mutant deficient in Gene Activity
    ii) "Probe" with radioactive short DNA molecule of sequence from the Gene

    Obtain short DNA sequence, eg, from Amino Acid Sequence of purified Protein

    Thus: go from Protein to Gene with no previously isolated Mutations ...
    Reverse Genetics ... this is the reverse of standard genetics, in which mutants are isolated and characterized (gene -> protein)

    Often use such a short DNA oligonucleotide Probe to partially purify
    R.fragments for further cloning:

    Southern Gels: ... [Brown, Tech Notes 2.1]
    Run R.fragments out on a Gel
    Transfer DNA from Gel to Nitrocellulose membrane
    Hybridize the fragments in Bands on the Gel to the Probe
    Detect correct bands via Radioactivity and film
    Purify R.fragments from this region of the Gel to use in Cloning

    Characterize Gene physically: Restriction Map ... Sequence

    Can also use Hybridization of a Probe for a Gene to:
    1. detect DNA spotted and denatured on filter paper: dot blots
    2. disrupted Lambda phage from a Lambda cDNA library on plates
    3. lysed cells on a plate with DNA transferred to a nitrocellulose membrane ...
    in situ Hybridization

     

    2. Genomic Cloning - Genome Libraries
    ... [Brown, Section 3.3, 3.4]

    Purpose: obtain library of complete genome
    Usually use Phage Lambda ... see advantages above

    Use of Isoschizomer R. enzymes: ... [Brown, Tech Notes 3.1]
    same sticky ends from cleavage
    Example: BamHI and Sau3A ... Sau3A is a "4-cutter" and hence has many more sites in a genome than does BamHI, which is a "6-cutter"
    Partial restriction with Sau3A yields large fragments, whose ends are from sites at many locations on the genome ... thus get overlapping fragments ...
    Much less likely to get good overlapping fragment pattern with BamHI due to lack of sufficient restriction sites ...

     

    3. Mapping from Cloning: Sequence Tagged Sites (STSs)
    ... [Brown, Section 3.3]

    Sequence Tagged Sites (STSs) are short DNA sequences (usually < 500 bp) determined from unique sequences in a given genome, and then mapped to that genome.

    These then provide methodology for high-resolution physical mapping of a genome.

     

    a. Sources of DNA for STSs:

    1. ESTs - Expressed Sequence Tags
    These are DNA sequences determined from expressed regions of the genome, or genes
    If a given expressed gene is present uniquely on the genome, the sequences of the EST is a good STS sequence.

    2. Genomic Sequences
    Any genomic sequence that is present uniquely on the genome can be used as an STS
    Good examples of such are DNA sequences previously determined and deposited in a DNA database such as GenBank.

     

    b. Mapping of STS Sequences:

    Once one has a set of DNA sequences to be used as STSs, they must be mapped to the genome.
    This can be done in many ways, including the following two general procedures:
    1. Cloning and use of a Clone Library
    2. Radiation Hybrids and use of a Radiation Hybrid Panel

    The STS markers, DNA sequences of length 500 bp or less, are nearly always assayed using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification of the STS region. PCR is amenable to automation and hence so-called "High ThroughPut (HTP)" methodology (highly automated, robotic methodology) can be used.

     

     

    4. cDNA Cloning - Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) ... [Brown, Sect 3.3.1]

    Purify a messenger RNA of interest ...
    "Reverse transcribe" the RNA into DNA, get a "complementary DNA strand":
    cDNA ... [Brown, Fig 3.11]
    Degrade the mRNA and synthesize the second DNA strand
    Clone the DNA so synthesized ...

    Often use lambda cloning vehicles for cloning cDNA species ...
    can thereby maintain an entire cDNA library as lambda phage in liquid at high density:
    > 10
    12 phage per ml

    cDNA library ... same thing but with ALL mRNAs from given tissue

    This provides a library of all mRNA sequences expressed in this tissue

    Such cDNA libraries can provide the DNA for sequencing to map sequence tagged sites (STSs) to a given genome or chromosome from a genome ... see Brown, Research Brief 3.1

     


    D. Radiation Hybrids

    Radiation Hybrids provide a methodology for high resolution mapping of DNA physical markers such as STSs on chromosomes of higher organisms such as human and mouse.

    For human chromosomes, Radiation Hybrid Panels are created by:
    1. irradiating human cells with x-rays, thereby fragmenting the chromosomes in these cells into fragments. The fragments are smaller when the x-ray dose is higher.
    2. creating a human-hamster fusion cell by fusing the irradiated human cells with mutant thymine-requiring hamster cells. Fusion can occur between these cells when mediated with chemicals or Sendai virus.
    3. creating a hybrid cell line by growing the fused cells in HAT media, selecting for human chromosome fragments containing a thymine gene. Cells in this fused cell line contain the hamster chromosomes plus some human chromosome fragments (as much as about 35% of the human genome).

    The Radiation Hybrid Panel consists of several such hybrid cell lines, all created in one fusion experiment. Typically, such a Panel has 50-100 different cell lines. Specific Radiation Panels, eg the G3 panel, have been used to construct a high resolution STS map of the human genome.

     

    1. Mapping STSs from Radiation Hybrids

    Radiation Hybrids can be used similarly to Clones in a Clone Library for high resolution mapping of STS markers. The principles for doing this are as follows:

    1. each Hybrid Cell Line in a given Radiation Hybrid Panel contains many fragments of human chromosomes.
    2. STSs that are close together will tend to be present together in the same human chromosome fragment in a given hybrid cell line; those that are far apart or on different chromosomes will not tend to be found in the same hybrid cell lines.
    3. this tendency is quantitated by recording what percent of the time two markers are found in the same cell line. This is almost always the same as the two markers being present on the same human chromosome fragment.
    4. Doing this yields the following type of data:

    Data from Human Chromosome 21q:

    S16 (8) S48 (9) S46 (22) S4

    with S16 (19) S46 and S48 (29) S4

    Thus, STS markers S16 and S48 appear on the same human chromosome fragment 92% of the time, ie the distance between the markers is 8 units.
    Similarly, STS markers S16 and S46 appear on the same human chromosome fragment 81% of the time, ie the distance between the markers is 19 units.

    Note that the distance between S16 and S48, i.e. 8 units, plus the distance between S48 and S46, i.e. 9 units, is close to the distance between S16 and S46, i.e. 19 units.


    Radiation Hybrid and Clone mapping of STS markers are widely used to provide high resolution physical maps of chromosomes and genomes... [Brown, Research Brief 3.1]

    These STS markers also provide a framework of mixed markers on the genome for complete Genome Sequencing. ... [Brown, Chap 4]

     

    E. Other Types of Cloning Experiments:

    1. Site Specific Mutagenesis

    Introduce specific Point Mutations (single base changes) into Cloned Gene
    Move back into Chromosome via Generalized Recombination ...


    2. Protein Production:

    Overexpress Gene Product, eg Insulin, in Bacteria ... Bacterial Factories

     





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