Highly efficient yeast-based in vivo DNA cloning of multiple DNA fragments and the simultaneous construction of yeast/ Escherichia coli shuttle vectors

In vivo recombinational cloning in yeast is a very efficient method. Until now, this method has been limited to experiments with yeast vectors because most animal, insect, and bacterial vectors lack yeast replication origins. We developed a new system to apply yeast-based in vivo cloning to vectors lacking yeast replication origins. Many cloning vectors are derived from the plasmid pBR322 and have a similar backbone that contains the ampicillin resistance gene and pBR322-derived replication origin for Escherichia coli. We constructed a helper plasmid pSUO that allows the in vivo conversion of a pBR322-derived vector to a yeast/E. coli shuttle vector through the use of this backbone sequence. The DNA fragment to be cloned is PCR-amplified with the addition of 40 bp of homology to a pBR322-derived vector. Cotransformation of linearized pSU0, the pBR322-derived vector, and a PCR-amplified DNA fragment, results in the conversion of the pBR322-derived vector into a yeast/E. coli shuttle vector carrying the DNA fragment of interest. Furthermore, this method is applicable to multifragment cloning, which is useful for the creation of fusion genes. Our method provides an alternative to traditional cloning methods.     

Improved shuttle vectors for cloning and high-level Cu(2+)-mediated expression of foreign genes in yeast

New yeast episomal vectors having a high degree of utility for cloning and expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae are described. One vector, pYEULlacZ, is based on pUC19 and employs the pUC19 multiple cloning site for the selection of recombinants in Escherichia coli by lacZ inactivation. In addition, the vector contains two genes, URA3 and leu2-d, for selection of the plasmid in ura3 or leu2 yeast strains. The presence of the leu2-d gene appears to promote replication at high copy numbers. The introduction of CUP1 cassettes allows these plasmids to direct Cu(2+)-regulated production of foreign proteins in yeast. We show the production of a helminth antigen as an example of the vector application.     

An Escherichia coli-Mycobacterium shuttle cosmid vector, pMSC1.

A shuttle cosmid vector, pMSC1, has been constructed which replicates in Escherichia coli and Mycobacterium smegmatis. The vector was mainly derived from the lambda ori cosmid, Lawrist4, and the Mycobacterium fortuitum cryptic plasmid, pAL5000, which replicates in M. smegmatis and Mycobacterium bovis BCG. The vector contains two cos sites which facilitates library construction, unique BamHI and HindIII sites for cloning, and a kanamycin-resistance-encoding gene for selection in mycobacteria. After packaging, the vector sequences comprise 10.3 kb, so that the theoretical size limits for inserts are 30-42 kb. A genomic library from M. smegmatis was constructed in E. coli; clones from this library were transferred into M. smegmatis by electroporation, and back again to E. coli, without any apparent rearrangements. This vector will be useful in cloning genes encoding complex pathways in mycobacteria.     

Construction of a newEscherichia coli — Saccharomyces cerevisiae shuttle plasmid cloning vector allowing positive selection for cloned fragments

A new E. coli-S. cerevisiae shuttle plasmid cloning vector (pPW263) with a positive type of selection, was constructed. The selection system, based on the regulatory region of lambda phage controlling the expression of tetracycline resistance, was derived from the cloning vector pUN121 (Nilsson et al. 1983). There are three cloning sites in the cI gene, EcoRI, HindIII and BglII, and, in addition, two unique sites in the neighborhood, BamHI and SalI. The size of the vector is 7.8 kb. The maintenance of the vector and the selection in yeast was ensured by the replication region of the 2 mu plasmid and by the URA3 marker gene, respectively.     

Direct Cloning of Yeast Genes from an Ordered Set of Lambda Clones in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae by Recombination in Vivo

We describe a technique that facilitates the isolation of yeast genes that are difficult to clone. This technique utilizes a plasmid vector that rescues lambda clones as yeast centromere plasmids. The source of these lambda clones is a set of clones whose location in the yeast genome has been determined by L. Riles et al. in 1993. The Esherichia coli-yeast shuttle plasmid carries URA3, ARS4 and CEN6, and contains DNA fragments from the lambda vector that flank the cloned yeast insert. When yeast is cotransformed with linearized plasmid and lambda clone DNA, Ura(+) transformants are obtained by a recombination event between the lambda clone and the plasmid vector that generates an autonomously replicating plasmid containing the cloned yeast DNA sequences. Genes whose genetic map positions are known can easily be identified and recovered in this plasmid by testing only those lambda clones that map to the relevant region of the yeast genome for their ability to complement the mutant phenotype. This technique facilitates the isolation of yeast genes that resist cloning either because (1) they are underrepresented in yeast genomic libraries amplified in E. coli, (2) they provide phenotypes that are too marginal to allow selection of the gene by genetic complementation or (3) they provide phenotypes that are laborious to score. We demonstrate the utility of this technique by isolating three genes, GAL83, SSN2 and MAK7, each of which presents one of these problems for cloning.     

Phasmid vectors for identification of genes by complementation of Escherichia coli mutants.

A bacteriophage lambda cloning vector was designed to facilitate the isolation of genes from procaryotic organisms by complementation of Escherichia coli mutants. This vector, lambda SE4, was constructed by attaching a very-low-copy-number replication system (from the plasmid NR1) and a spectinomycin resistance gene to the left arm of lambda 1059 (Karn et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 77:5172-5176, 1980). This phasmid cloning vector is capable of growing lytically as a phage in a nonimmune host or lysogenically as a phasmid in an immune host. This phasmid utilizes the Spi- selection for insertions of DNA into the vector and has the ability to accept 2- to 19-kilobase Sau3A1, BamHI, BglII, BclI, or XhoII fragments; recombinants lysogenize immune hosts as single-copy-number selectable plasmids at 100% frequency. An E. coli library was constructed by using the initial vector lambda SE4, and clones of a number of representative genes were identified. A typical clone, lambda ant+, was shown to be readily mutagenized by a mini-Tn10 transposon. A general method for transferring cloned DNA segments onto bacteriophage lambda was developed. The method involves the use of in vivo recombination with a selection and was used to construct two derivatives of lambda SE4. Possible uses of these vectors and of the method for transferring cloned DNA onto phage lambda are discussed.     

Modification of in vitro metabolism of T-2 toxin by esterase inhibitors.

A shuttle vector that can replicate in both Streptococcus spp. and Escherichia coli has been constructed by joining the E. coli plasmid pACYC184 (chloramphenicol and tetracycline resistance) to the streptococcal plasmid pGB305 (erythromycin resistance). The resulting chimeric plasmid is designated pSA3 (chloramphenicol, erythromycin, and tetracycline resistance) and has seven unique restriction sites: EcoRI, EcoRV, BamHI, SalI, XbaI, NruI, and SphI. Molecular cloning into the EcoRI or EcoRV site results in inactivation of chloramphenicol resistance, and cloning into the BamHI, SalI, or SphI site results in inactivation of tetracycline resistance in E. coli. pSA3 was transformed and was stable in Streptococcus sanguis and Streptococcus mutans in the presence of erythromycin. We have used pSA3 to construct a library of the S. mutans GS5 genome in E. coli, and expression of surface antigens in this heterologous host has been confirmed with S. mutans antiserum. A previously cloned determinant that specifies streptokinase was subcloned into pSA3, and this recombinant plasmid was stable in the presence of a selective pressure and expressed streptokinase activity in E. coli, S. sanguis (Challis), and S. mutans.     

Construction of plasmid vectors that facilitate subcloning and recovery of yeast and Escherichia coli DNA fragments

We have constructed a plasmid vector (pNF2) which is a derivative of the multicopy yeast cloning vehicle YEp24. This derivative contains a single BamHI site flanked immediately on each side by SalI sites. The latter site was selected because it appears to be infrequent in yeast nuclear DNA. Thus, DNA fragments produced by partial digestion with enzymes (such as Sau3A) that cut at frequent intervals and leave single-stranded ends that have sequence homology with BamHI sites, can be conveniently subcloned into this site. Such fragments can then be excised intact by digestion with SalI enzyme. Plasmid pNF2 also contains the kanamycin-resistance (kanR) gene derived from Tn903 and confers resistance in yeast to the antibiotic G418. pNF2 was converted into an integrating vector (pNF3) by deleting a 2.2-kb EcoRI fragment containing a sequence that determines autonomous replication in yeast. Further deletion of a HindIII fragment containing the yeast URA3 gene converts the plasmid into one containing only pBR322 sequences plus the kanR gene (pNF4).     

Cloning and expression of an alpha-amylase gene from Streptomyces thermoviolaceus CUB74 in Escherichia coli JM107 and S. lividans TK24

A gene coding for a thermostable extracellular alpha-amylase, carried by a 5.7 kb BamHI chromosomal DNA fragment isolated from Streptomyces thermoviolaceus strain CUB74, was cloned into Escherichia coli JM107 using, as a cloning vector, the high-copy-number plasmid pUC8. E. coli containing a recombinant plasmid pQR300 expressed the amylase gene and exported the enzyme into the periplasmic space and the culture medium. The amylase protein expressed by E. coli had the same molecular mass (50 kDa) as that expressed by the Streptomyces parent strain, which suggests that the enzyme is processed similarly by both strains. The amylase gene was also cloned into Streptomyces lividans TK24 using pIJ702 as vector. The enzyme was stable at 70 degrees C when CaCl2 was present.     

Yeast shuttle and integrative vectors with multiple cloning sites suitable for construction of lacZ fusions

We report yeast/Escherichia coli shuttle vectors suitable for fusing yeast promoter and coding sequences to the lacZ gene of E. coli. The vectors contain a region of multiple unique restriction sites including EcoRI, KpnI, SmaI, BamHI, XbaI, SalI, PstI, SphI and HindIII. The region with the unique cloning sites has been introduced in both orientations with respect to lacZ and occurs proximal to the eighth codon of the gene. All the restriction sites have been phased to three different reading frames. Two series of vectors have been constructed. The first series (YEp) has two origins of replication (ori), i.e., of the yeast 2 mu circle and of the ColE1 plasmid of E. coli, and can therefore replicate autonomously in both organisms. These shuttle vectors also have the ApR gene of E. coli and either the yeast LEU2 or URA3 genes to allow for selection of both E. coli and yeast transformants. The second series of vectors (YIp) are identical in all respects to the YEp vectors except that they lack the 2 mu ori. The YIp vectors can be used to integrate lacZ fusions into yeast chromosomal DNA. None of the vectors express beta-galactosidase (beta Gal) in yeast or E. coli in the absence of inserted yeast promoter sequences. The 5'-nontranslated sequences and parts of the coding sequences of various yeast genes have been cloned into representative lacZ fusion vectors. In-frame gene fusions can be detected by beta Gal activity when either yeast or E. coli clones are plated on media containing XGal indicator. Quantitative determinations of promoter activity were made by colorimetric assay of beta Gal activity in whole cells. Fusion of the yeast CYC1 gene to lacZ in one of the vectors allowed detection of regulated expression of this gene when cells were grown under conditions of catabolite repression or derepression.     

Construction and characterization of three yeast-Escherichia coli shuttle vectors designed for rapid subcloning of yeast genes on small DNA fragments

We have constructed three new subcloning plasmid vectors, pRC1, pRC2, and pRC3, derived from pKC7, which allow the rapid, single-step subcloning of yeast genes. Subcloning with these vectors utilizes a partial digestion with Sau3A to generate a quasi-random set of DNA fragments from the original plasmid. All three vectors contain a kanamycin resistance gene. Therefore, if the original cloned yeast DNA fragment is present in a vector that does not specify kanamycin resistance, the subclone pool can be propagated in Escherichia coli in the presence of kanamycin to select against parent plasmids that escaped restriction by Sau3A. Selection by complementation in yeast yields a collection of plasmids with smaller yeast DNA inserts containing the gene of interest. In the vectors pRC2 and pRC3, constructed from pRC1, the unique BamHI site is located within an intact tetracycline resistance gene, thus making it possible to screen bacterial transformants for those containing recombinant plasmid molecules. Vectors pRC2 and pRC3 also contain the yeast 2 micrometers DNA replication origin, and thus are more stable than plasmids carrying only the TRP1-associated replicator (ars1).     

Specific-purpose plasmid cloning vectors. II. Broad host range, high copy number, RSF1010-derived vectors, and a host-vector system for gene cloning in Pseudomonas

Host-vector systems have been developed for gene cloning in the metabolically versatile bacterial genus Pseudomonas. They comprise restriction-negative host strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and P. putida and new cloning vectors derived from the high-copy-number, broad-host-range plasmid RSF1010, which are stably maintained in a wide range of Gram-negative bacteria. These plasmids contain EcoRI, SstI, HindIII, XmaI, XhoI, SalI, BamHI, and ClaI insertion sites. All cloning sites, except for BamHI and ClaI, are located within antibiotic-resistance genes' insertional inactivation of these genes during hybrid plasmid formation provides a readily scored phenotypic change for the rapid identification of bacterial clones carrying such hybrids. One of the new vector plasmids is a cosmid that may be used for the selective cloning of large DNA fragments by in vitro lambda packaging. An analogous series of vectors that are defective in their plasmid-mobilization function, and that exhibit a degree of biological containment comparable to that of current Escherichia coli vector plasmids, are also described.     

苏云金芽胞杆菌杀蚊基因在鱼腥藻中克隆和表达的初步研究

将苏云金芽胞杆菌以色列亚种的杀蚊晶体蛋白基因cry11A亚克隆到大肠杆菌－蓝藻的穿梭质粒载体pRL25C,然后用三亲本杂交的方法将重组质粒转移到一种具有固氮能力且可被蚊幼虫吞食的鱼腥藻（Anabaena）PCC7120中。Southernblot及Westernblot分析表明cry11A基因在鱼腥藻PCC7120中得以克隆和表达,但生物测定未能检测到转基因鱼腥藻对库蚊（Culex）的毒性,可能是因为带有苏云金芽胞杆菌自身启动子的Cry11A基因在鱼腥藻PCC7120中表达量不够高的缘故。     

含质粒复制起始区ori44的苏云金芽胞杆菌解离载体的构建

将苏云金芽胞杆菌转座子Tn4430的解离酶识别位点res分别插入克隆载体pRSET B和pUC19得到质粒pBMB1201和pBMB1202。这两个质粒分别经BamHI/Hin dⅢ和EcoRI/HindⅢ双酶切回收含res位点的小DNA片段,与穿梭载体pHT3101经EcoRI/HindⅢ双酶切后加收的含大肠杆菌复制起始区、氨苄青霉素抗性基因和红霉素抗性基因的3．3kb片段连接,获得重组质粒pBMB1203。封闭pBMB1203两res位点外的BamHI和EcoRI位点后,得到解离载体pBMB1204。将来源于苏云金芽胞杆菌库斯塔克亚种YBT－1520的质粒复制起始区ori44片段插入pBMB1204的两res位点之间,得到解离穿梭载体pBMB1205。该解离载体插入壮观霉素抗性基因后电转化无晶体突变株,在辅助质粒所提供的解离酶作用下可发生解离消除抗性基因,解离频率为100％,解离后的质粒稳定性为93％。利用解离穿梭载体pBMB1205可在用抗性筛选到转化子后特定消除抗性标记基因和其它非苏云金芽胞杆菌DNA片段。     

Cloning in Escherichia coli of the mutant gene coding the diphtheria toxin

Bacteriophage beta 45 of Corynebacterium diphtheriae was harvested. The extracted DNA of the bacteriophage was digested by the restriction endonuclease BamHI and inserted into the BamHI cleavage site of pUC19 vector plasmid. Plasmid pNVY5 containing a mutant gene crm45 of diphtheriae toxin in a 3.9 bpn fragment was isolated from the hybrid plasmids obtained. Cell free extracts of E. coli strain TG1 (pVNY5) contain the nontoxic protein crm45 possessing the specific enzymatic activity of diphtheriae toxin (ADP ribosylation on wheat elongation factor two). According to orientation of BamHI fragment in pNVY5 plasmid it is concluded that the crm45 gene is expressed using its own promoter.