Engineering hybrid genes without the use of restriction enzymes: gene splicing by overlap extension

Gene splicing by overlap extension is a new approach for recombining DNA molecules at precise junctions irrespective of nucleotide sequences at the recombination site and without the use of restriction endonucleases or ligase. Fragments from the genes that are to be recombined are generated in separate polymerase chain reactions (PCRs). The primers are designed so that the ends of the products contain complementary sequences. When these PCR products are mixed, denatured, and reannealed, the strands having the matching sequences at their 3' ends overlap and act as primers for each other. Extension of this overlap by DNA polymerase produces a molecule in which the original sequences are 'spliced' together. This technique is used to construct a gene encoding a mosaic fusion protein comprised of parts of two different class-I major histocompatibility genes. This simple and widely applicable approach has significant advantages over standard recombinant DNA techniques.     

A rapid and efficient method for multiple-site mutagenesis with a modified overlap extension PCR

A rapid and efficient method to perform site-directed mutagenesis based on an improved version of overlap extension by polymerase chain reaction (OE-PCR) is demonstrated in this paper. For this method, which we name modified (M)OE-PCR, there are five steps: (1) synthesis of individual DNA fragments of interest (with average 20-bp overlap between adjacent fragments) by PCR with high-fidelity pfu DNA polymerase, (2) double-mixing (every two adjacent fragments are mixed to implement OE-PCR without primers), (3) pre-extension (the teams above are mixed to obtain full-length reassembled DNA by OE-PCR without primers), (4) synthesis of the entire DNA of interest by PCR with outermost primers and template DNA from step 3, (5) post-extension (ten cycles of PCR at 72°C for annealing and extension are implemented). The method is rapid, simple and error-free. It provides an efficient choice, especially for multiple-site mutagenesis of DNAs; and it can theoretically be applied to the modification of any DNA fragment. Using the MOE-PCR method, we have successfully obtained a modified sam1 gene with eight rare codons optimized simultaneously. Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at .     

A direct and efficient PAGE-mediated overlap extension PCR method for gene multiple-site mutagenesis

A simple, two-step efficient method to perform multiple-site mutagenesis of a gene from bacterial genome was developed. The method was named polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE)-mediated overlap extension polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (POEP). The first step involves synthesis of individual fragments containing mutant sites with 15- to 25-bp overlap between two adjacent fragments. Mutations were introduced into the overlapping oligonucleotide primers which ensured the particular primer-template annealing. PAGE was used to remove contaminating parental templates, mispriming fragments, and leftover primers. The second step involves synthesis of the mutant full-length fragment. All purified PCR products from the first step were combined and used as the template for a second PCR using high-fidelity DNA polymerase, with the two outermost flanking oligonucleotides as primers. Using the POEP method, we have successfully introduced eight EcoRI sites into the Escherichia coli β-galactosidase (Lac Z) gene. The overall rate of obtaining the multiple mutant sites was 100%. The POEP method is simple, involving only two steps, and reliable for multiple-site mutagenesis and is promising to be widely used in gene modification.     

A rapid and efficient method for site-directed mutagenesis using one-step overlap extension PCR.

A rapid method is described to efficiently perform site-directed mutagenesis based on overlap extension polymerase chain reaction (OE-PCR). Two template DNA molecules in different orientations relative to only one universal primer were amplified in parallel. By choosing a high dilution of mutagenic primers it was possible to run an overlap extension PCR in only one reaction without purification of intermediate products. This method which we have named one-step overlap extension PCR (OOE-PCR) can in principle be applied to every DNA fragment which can be cloned into a multiple cloning site of any common cloning vector.     

A new method for the rapid identification of genes encoding restriction and modification enzymes.

We have constructed derivatives of Escherichia coli that can be used for the rapid identification of recombinant plasmids encoding DNA restriction enzymes and methyltransferases. The induction of the DNA-damage inducible SOS response by the Mcr and Mrr systems, in the presence of methylated DNA, is used to select plasmids encoding DNA methyltransferases. The strains of E. coli that we have constructed are temperature-sensitive for the Mcr and Mrr systems and have been further modified to include a lacZ gene fused to the damage-inducible dinD locus of E. coli. The detection of recombinant plasmids encoding DNA methyltransferases and restriction enzymes is a simple, one step procedure that is based on the induction at the restrictive temperature of the lacZ gene. Transformants encoding DNA methyltransferase genes are detected on LB agar plates supplemented with X-gal as blue colonies. Using this method, we have cloned a variety of DNA methyltransferase genes from diverse species such as Neisseria, Haemophilus, Treponema, Pseudomonas, Xanthomonas and Saccharopolyspora.     

Asymmetric overlap extension PCR method bypassing intermediate purification and the amplification of wild-type template in site-directed mutagenesis

By combining asymmetric PCR and overlap extension, we developed a novel asymmetric overlap extension PCR (AOE-PCR) method for site-directed mutagenesis which bypassed the need for intermediate purification and excluded the amplification of a wild-type template. This method was used to introduce single base mutations into a small GTPase gene from cotton and to simultaneously introduce two mutations just by repeating this method using the first round AOE-PCR products as template. Our results suggested that the AOE-PCR method represents a valuable improvement of the original overlap extension PCR for site-directed mutagenesis.     

A PCR amplification strategy for unrestricted generation of chimeric genes

For analyzing protein function, protein dynamics, or protein–protein interactions, the use of chimeric proteins has become an indispensable tool. The generation of DNA constructs coding for such fused proteins can, however, be a tedious process. Currently used strategies often make use of available endonuclease sites, leading to limitations in the choice of the site of fusion between two genes and problems in maintaining protein secondary structure. We have developed a cloning strategy to get around these disadvantages that is based on a single round of PCR amplification followed by antibiotic-resistant gene complementation.     

Precise large deletions by the PCR-based overlap extension method

The authors describe an efficient method for generating large deletions (>200 nts) of precise length using the PCR-based method of gene splicing by overlap extension (1). This method is technically simple and less time consuming than conventional loop-out mutagenesis techniques requiring preparation of a single-stranded DNA template.     

A general method for the purification of restriction enzymes.

An abbreviated procedure has been developed for the purification of restriction endonucleases. This procedure uses chromatography on phosphocellulose and hydroxylapatite and results in enzymes of sufficient purity to permit their use in the sequencing, molecular cloning, and physical mapping of DNA.     

Using a modified TA cloning method to create entry clones

We describe a noncommercial alternative method to create entry clones compatible with all kinds of destination vectors based on an improved TA cloning approach. To generate Gateway T vectors, we first constructed gentamicin- and chloramphenicol-resistant entry vectors designated pGWG and pGWC, respectively. Each entry vector contains an AhdI cassette flanked by attL sites, with each AhdI cassette containing two AhdI restriction enzyme sites spaced by the ccdB killer gene, which is lethal to most Escherichia coli strains. Gateway T vectors can be prepared by simple digestion of these entry vectors with the AhdI enzyme or its isoschizomers. The use of the ccdB gene as a negative selection marker is an important improvement over conventional TA cloning in that it eliminates the necessity of blue/white color screening based on alpha-complementation. Another important improvement that we have implemented is to retail the T vectors using Taq polymerase and dTTP so as to improve the cloning efficiency. Together, these improvements allow TA cloning to realize its full potential. Using Gateway T vectors prepared by this improved method, entry clones for PCR products or restriction enzyme fragments can be created simply, efficiently, and inexpensively while at the same time introducing greater compatibility.     

Gene splicing by overlap extension: tailor-made genes using the polymerase chain reaction

Gene Splicing by Overlap Extension or "gene SOEing" is a PCR-based method of recombining DNA sequences without reliance on restriction sites and of directly generating mutated DNA fragments in vitro. By modifying the sequences incorporated into the 5'-ends of the primers, any pair of polymerase chain reaction products can be made to share a common sequence at one end. Under polymerase chain reaction conditions, the common sequence allows strands from two different fragments to hybridize to one another, forming an overlap. Extension of this overlap by DNA polymerase yields a recombinant molecule. This powerful and technically simple approach offers many advantages over conventional approaches for manipulating gene sequences.     

Construction of in-frame chimeric plant viral genes by simplified PCR strategies

The use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based mutagenesis to create chimeric genes is presently not cost-effective because of the size and number of primers as well as the number of PCRs required. We have developed two strategies based on inverse PCR that exploit limited homologies between two DNA molecules to create in-frame chimeric plant viral genes. This report also contains a compilation of information useful for determining possible restriction sites at a given common dipeptide coding motif between any genes of interest.     

The corrected nucleotide sequences of the TaqI restriction and modification enzymes reveal a thirteen-codon overlap.

The nucleotide sequence of the genes encoding methyltransferase TaqI (M.TaqI) and restriction endonuclease TaqI (R.TaqI) with the recognition sequence, TCGA, were analyzed in clones isolated from independent libraries. The genes, originally reported as 363 and 236 codons long [Slatko et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 15 (1987) 9781-9796] were redetermined as 421 and 263 codons long, respectively. The C terminus of the taqIM gene overlaps the N terminus of the taqIR gene by 13 codons, as observed with the isoschizomeric TthHB8I restriction-modification system [Barany et al., Gene 112 (1992) 13-20]. Removal of the overlapping codons did not interfere with in vivo M.TaqI activity. We postulate the overlap plays a role in regulating taqIR expression.     

A computer algorithm to determine the recognition site of restriction enzymes

A new algorithm is proposed to determine the type-II restrictionendonucleases' recognition site knowing the digested DNA sequenceand fragment lengths in an actual case. The algorithm is implementedfor the Commodore 64 microcomputer. Received on January 6, 1987; accepted on June 19, 1987