Protocols

[1A] Polymerase Chain Reaction

PCR is used to rapidly amplify certain segments of DNA that are selected via designed primers. This protocol was used to accomplish a variety of goals, from extraction of parts from a cloning vector to the addition of restriction cut sites at the ends of parts.

1. Defrost template, 2x Master Mix and primers
2. Determine desired total working volume (~25uL)
3. Label reaction tubes
4. Create below reaction mix
5. Place mixture in thermal cycler at settings shown below

Sample Reaction

This is an example protocol used in the thermal cycler, durations and temperatures subject to change

[1B] PCR Cleanup

The Qiagen Qiaquick PCR cleanup kit was used to purify the thermal cycler product and remove remaining polymerases and nucleotides.

1. Gather the solutions from the PCR cleanup kit
2. Mix 5 times volume of Buffer PB with PCR reaction tube
3. Add 10uL 3M sodium acetate
4. Spin down the mixture in a QIAquick filter column at max speed for 60s. Discard flow-through and replace column into tube
5. Add 750uL of Buffer PE to the mixture and spin down at max speed for 60s to wash. Discard flow-through and replace column
6. Centrifuge the tube one more time to remove any remaining wash buffer
7. Place column in clean 1.5mL plastic tube
8. Add 30uL of Buffer EB to the column and let stand for 1min. Centrifuge at max speed for 1 min.

[2A] DNA Restriction Digest

1. Gather DNA sample, digestion buffer, and restriction enzymes from cold storage
2. Label tubes
3. Create the below reaction mixture
4. Place mixture in 37°C heat block for 10 minutes

[2B] Gel Verification/Extraction

1. Make 1% gel by adding .6g of agarose to 60mL of 1x TAE buffer
2. Swirl in glass flask and microwave for 40s
3. Remove from microwave and swirl again. Microwave again for 40s
4. Let cool until safe to touch. Add 6uL of SYBR safe red stain
5. Pour mixture into gel mold with comb set up
6. Fill gel electrophoresis apparatus with 1x TAE
7. Remove comb from gel and submerge gel in apparatus
8. Add 4uL of 1kb+ blue ladder to the first well
9. Add samples mixed with loading dye to other wells
10. Connect negative/positive ends to apparatus. Run at 110V
11. Run for 30min-1hr. Remove and take to UV imager
12. Photograph under UV light. If doing gel extraction, use scalpel to cut out blocks of gel containing desired bands
13. Gel purify using Qiagen Gel Purification kit (the protocol can be found here)
14. (If extracting)Use Nanodrop Spectrophotometer to measure DNA concentration

[2C] Ligation

1. Retrieve digested samples(insert and vector DNA), ligase, and ligation buffer from cold storage
2. Determine a desired ratio of insert:vector molecules in reaction (2:1, or higher for higher success)
3. Set up the below reaction
4. Create a negative control with vector DNA but no insert DNA
5. Mix via flicking the tube. Incubate at room temperature for 10 min

[2D] Transformation(for ligated samples)

1. Retrieve ligation sample, and enough plates for all samples and a control
2. Warm up plates in 37°C
3. Retrieve competent cells from freezer and store in ice
4. Mix total ligation mixture with 50uL of cells in a tube. Mix via pipetting
5. Incubate on ice for 10 minutes
6. Place tubes in 42°C heat block for 45 seconds to heat shock, then put them back on ice for 1 minute
7. Add 750uL SOC media to tubes
8. Tape tubes to 37°C shaking incubator for 45 minutes to recover
9. Remove from incubator and pellet in centrifuge. Discard the supernatant
10. Add 100uL of LB broth with antibiotic that matches selected plates
11. Pipette total mixture onto plates with antibiotic. Spread with glass beads
12. Incubate overnight at 37°C

[3] Miniprep

The miniprep kit that was used was the Sigma-Aldrich GenElute Plasmid Miniprep Kit. The used protocol can be found here