Efficient and seamless DNA recombineering using a thymidylate synthase A selection system in Escherichia coli

Nucleic Acids Res. 2005 Mar 30;33(6):e59. doi: 10.1093/nar/gni059.

Abstract

Lambda-red system-based recombinogenic engineering is a powerful new method to engineer DNA without the need for restriction enzymes or ligases. Here, we report the use of a single selectable marker to enhance the usefulness of this approach. The strategy is to utilize the thymidylate synthase A (thyA) gene, which encodes an enzyme involved in the synthesis of thymidine 5'-triphosphate, for both positive and negative selection. With this approach, we successfully created point mutations in plasmid and bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) DNA containing the mouse Col10a1 gene. The results showed that the thyA selection system is highly efficient and accurate, giving an average of >90% selection efficiency. This selection system produces DNA that is free from permanent integration of unwanted sequences, thus allowing unlimited rounds of modifications if required.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacteriophage lambda / genetics
  • Collagen Type X / genetics
  • DNA, Recombinant / genetics*
  • Escherichia coli / enzymology
  • Escherichia coli / genetics*
  • Escherichia coli / growth & development
  • Genetic Engineering / methods*
  • Mice
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Point Mutation
  • Recombination, Genetic*
  • Thymidylate Synthase / genetics*

Substances

  • Collagen Type X
  • DNA, Recombinant
  • Thymidylate Synthase