invitrogen TOPO PCR cloning solutions Simple. Flexible. Exceptional. Get the cloning results you can count on Twenty years ago, Invitrogen™ TOPO™ technology became known for superior quality and game-changing innovation in cloning. Today Invitrogen™ TOPO™ PCR cloning kits are still among the fastest, simplest, and most flexible cloning solutions available. TOPO cloning technology is: • Efficient—up to 95% of clones contain desired insert • Fast—5-min, room-temperature reaction • Easy—simple 3-step procedure • Proven—over 20,000 citations • Flexible—available with or without competent cells, and in multiple reaction sizes and formats to accommodate your choice of polymerase Whether you're performing general subcloning, sequencing, TA or high-fidelity blunt-end cloning, long-fragment cloning, expression-vector cloning, or directional cloning, or you're using the Invitrogen™ Gateway™ system, there's a TOPO cloning solution that's right for you. TOPO PCR cloning kits help you get the right clone sooner, freeing up your time to answer more important questions. Contents The technology behind TOPO cloning 4 TOPO TA cloning 5 High-fidelity blunt-end TOPO cloning 6 TOPO long-fragment cloning 7 Directional TOPO cloning 8 TOPO expression vector cloning 9 Entry into the Gateway system 10 Ordering information 11 The technology behind TOPO cloning TOPO cloning is as easy as 1, 2, 3 Perform PCR with Tag or a proofreading polymerase. 1. Add 1 |jL of pcr reaction to 1 |jL of topo cloning vector. 2. Incubate 5 min at room temperature. 3. Transform the competent E. coli provided. PCR product Figure 1. TOPO PCR cloning requires just three easy steps. Simply combine your PCR product and a TOPO cloning vector in the provided reaction buffer, wait 5 minutes, then transform an £ coli strain. With TOPO cloning, the additional time, steps, and reagents required for ligase-mediated cloning are eliminated. The key to TOPO cloning is the enzyme DNA topoisomerase I, which functions both as a restriction enzyme and as a ligase. Its biological role is to cleave and rejoin DNA during replication. Vaccinia virus topoisomerase I specifically recognizes the pentameric sequence 5'-(C/T)CCTT-3' and forms a covalent bond with the phosphate group attached to the 3' thymidine. It cleaves one DNA strand, enabling the DNA to unwind. The enzyme then religates the ends of the cleaved strand and is released from the DNA. To harness the religating activity of topoisomerase, TOPO" vectors are provided linearized with topoisomerase I covalently bound to the 3' phosphate on each end. This enables the vectors to readily ligate DNA sequences with compatible ends. The ligation is complete in only 5 minutes (Figure 1). 4 TOPO cloning TOPO TA cloning Invitrogen" TOPO" TA Cloning" Kits are designed for cloning PCR products amplified by Taq DNA polymerase, which leaves an adenine at the 3' end of the product, creating overhangs or sticky ends (Figure 2). The TOPO™ TA vectors include 3'-thymine overhangs for fast, effective, and direct cloning of Tag-amplified PCR products. Applications 4 Helpful tips Add restriction sites and/or universal primer sites to either end of a PCR product using our TOPO™ subcloning and sequencing vectors Subcloning Invitrogen" TOPO" TA subcloning kits utilize our pCR™2.1-TOPO™ TA Vector (Figure 3), which features: • T7 promoter and M13 forward- and reverse-primer sites for in vitro transcription and sequencing • EcoRI sites flanking the PCR product insertion site for easy excision of inserts • 15 convenient and validated restriction sites flanking the insert for easy, directional subcloning • Ampicillin- and kanamycin-resistance genes for your choice of selection in £ coli • Easy blue or white colony screening for selection of recombinants Topoisomerase I recognition sites aqqq * ttccc ccctt qqqa >-J--3' phosphate Sequencing Invitrogen" TOPO" TA sequencing kits utilize our pCR™4-TOPO™ TA Vector, which allows you to directly select recombinants by disrupting the lethal £ coli gene, ccdB. The vector contains the ccdB gene fused to the C-terminus of the lacZa gene (Figure 4). Ligation of a PCR product disrupts expression of the lacZa-ccdB gene fusion, permitting growth of only positive recombinants upon transformation. Competent cells that contain nonrecombinant vector are killed upon plating, so blue/white screening is not required. The pCR4-TOPO TA Vector features: • Minimal multiple cloning site to shorten the distance between sequencing primer sites and the insert site to as little as 33 bp • Ampicillin- and kanamycin-resistance genes and a lacZa-ccdB gene fusion for positive selection 5 min at room temperature Flanking £coRI sites for simplified excision of cloned PCR products and a unique Sse8387l site for generation of nested deletions prior to sequencing Tag-am pllf led a| PCR product ■ t Topoisomerase I is released TOPO TA cloning vector Tag-amplified PCR product Figure 2. TOPO TA cloning of Tag-amplified DNA. Ligation complete Figure 3. The pCR2.1-TOPO TA Vector. Figure 4. The pCR4-TOPO TA Vector. thermofisher.com/topo 5 High-fidelity blunt-end TOPO cloning Invitrogen" Zero Blunt" TOPO" PCR cloning kits are designed for cloning PCR products amplified with high-fidelity polymerases such as Invitrogen™ Platinum™ SuperFi™ DNA Polymerase, which features >100x Taq fidelity and robust amplification of even the most difficult targets. These polymerases have extensive 3' to 5' exonuclease activity and leave blunt-ended PCR products rather than 3'-A overhangs. Therefore, the vectors supplied in our Zero Blunt TOPO PCR cloning kits have blunt ends as well for effective ligation (Figure 5). Applications Subcloning Invitrogen™ Zero Blunt™ TOPO" subcloning kits utilize our pCR"-Blunt ll-TOPO™ Vector (Figure 6). It features: • The ccdB gene for positive selection, only permitting growth of plasmid vectors with recombinants • Kanamycin- and Gibco" Zeocin™ antibiotic-resistance genes for your choice of selection in £ coli • EcoRI sites flanking the PCR product insertion site for easy excision of inserts • SP6 promoter/primer site for in vitro transcription and sequencing • M13 forward- and reverse-primer sites for sequencing or PCR screening Topoisomerase I recognition sites xaaqqq ttccc ccctt qqqaa 3' phosphate Sequencing Invitrogen™ Zero Blunt™ TOPO" sequencing kits utilize our pCR"4Blunt-TOPO™ Vector (Figure 7). It features: • Minimal multiple cloning site to shorten the distance between sequencing primer sites and the insert site to as little as 33 bp • The ccdB gene for positive selection, only permitting growth of plasmid vectors with recombinants • Ampicillin- and kanamycin-resistance genes for your choice of selection in E. coli • EcoRI sites flanking the PCR product insertion site for easy excision of inserts and a unique Sse8387l site for generation of nested deletions prior to sequencing 5 min at room temperature cccttI qqqaaI aaqqq Ittccc I I Did you know All Zero Blunt TOPO vectors contain the lethal ccdB gene. With this positive selection method, only clones with an insert will grow as colonies on your plate, giving you the confidence you need in your blunt-end cloning results. • T7 and T3 promoters for in vitro transcription • M13 forward, M13 reverse, T7 and T3 priming sites for sequencing 73 bp 33 bp 33 bp Rn h jljl Figure 6. The pCR-Blunt ll-TOPO Vector. pCR4Blunt-TOPO Topoisomerase I is released Zero Blunt TOPO vector Blunt-end PCR product Figure 5. Zero Blunt TOPO cloning of blunt-end DNA. Ligation complete Figure 7. The pCR-4Blunt-TOPO Vector. 6 TOPO cloning TOPO long-fragment cloning The Invitrogen" TOPO" XL-2 Complete PCR Cloning Kit provides all the necessary elements for highly efficient cloning of extra-long PCR products (up to 13 kb). The kit uses the linearized and topoisomerase 1-activated pCR"-XL-2-TOPO" vector, which is compatible with the cloning of blunt-end PCR fragments. Amplification of long PCR fragments is enabled by Invitrogen" Platinum" SuperFi" Green PCR Master Mix; which is included in the kit (Figure 8). Topoisomerase I activation of the vector allows PCR products to be ligated in just 5 minutes on your benchtop, resulting in high cloning efficiencies (Figure 9). The TOPO XL-2 Complete PCR Cloning Kit includes: • TOPO XL-2 PCR Cloning Kits containing the pCR-XL-2-TOPO vector • Platinum SuperFi Green PCR Master Mix-featuring a high-fidelity (>100x Taq fidelity), proofreading DNA polymerase to help generate more accurate long PCR amplicons • Invitrogen" PureLink" Quick Gel Extraction and PCR Purification Combo Kit—designed to purify DNA fragments in less than 30 minutes from agarose gels or direct PCR purification using a silica-based spin cartridge • Invitrogen" One Shot" OmniMAX" 2 T1R Chemically Competent E. coli Cells—a highly efficient chemically competent cell line, well-suited for use in all cloning applications Features of the pCR-XL-2-TOPO vector (Figure 10) include: • ccdB gene for positive selection • EcoRI site flanking the PCR product insertion site for easy excision of inserts • Ampicillin- and kanamycin-resistance genes for your choice of antibiotic selection • T7 promoter/priming site for in vitro transcription • T7, T3, and M13 forward- and reverse-primer sites for sequencing Figure 8. Platinum SuperFi DNA Polymerase exhibits high specificity while amplifying a wide range of target sizes. 1 kb, 3 kb, 7 kb, 10 kb, and 13 kb targets from Thermo Scientific™ Lambda genomic DNA were amplified using Platinum SuperFi DNA Polymerase. Manufacturer's standards for PCR cycling parameters were followed. 100% ■g 60% % .E 40% c o O 20% 0% 1 kb 3 kb 7 kb 10 kb TOPO XL 2.0 13 kb Figure 9. TOPO XL-2 PCR Cloning Kits show high cloning efficiencies for a wide range of targets, up to 13 kb in length. 1 kb, 3 kb, 7 kb, 10 kb, and 13 kb Lambda DNA targets were cloned using the TOPO XL-2 PCR Cloning Kit workflow. Blunt-end, Platinum SuperFi DNA Polymerase-amplified PCR product 73 bp 33 bp * ^33 b 1- 60 bp i i 1-TO^^ Figure 10. The pCR-XL-2-TOPO vector. thermofisher.com/topo 7 Directional TOPO cloning Directional TOPO cloning enables cloning of blunt-ended PCR products directly into an expression vector in a single orientation. With a 5-minute ligation reaction, this technology eliminates subcloning steps and saves you time. Directional TOPO cloning vectors have a single-stranded GTGG overhang at one end and a blunt end at the other (Figure 11). The GTGG overhang invades the double-stranded DNA of the PCR product and anneals to the CACC sequence that you place in your primer. Topoisomerase I then ligates the PCR product in the correct orientation for expression. With Invitrogen™ directional TOPO" cloning expression kits, you can: • Save time—TOPO cloning of your PCR product takes just 5 minutes • Obtain efficient cloning results—more than 90% of recombinant clones will be in the correct orientation for expression • Achieve high-level expression—vectors carry powerful promoters for expression in £ coli or mammalian cells Topoisomerase I recognition sites aaggg ttccc 5 min at room temperature ccct/ gggaagtgg 3' phosphate pcr product Directional TOPO cloning vector Blunt-end PCR product (designed with CACC at one end, no modification at the other) ccctt gggaagtg aaggg ttccc GTGG t Extra GTGG removed after transformation Ligation complete Figure 11. Directional TOPO cloning of blunt-end DNA. 8 TOPO cloning TOPO expression vector cloning TOPO cloning for E coli expression Invitrogen" Champion" pET Directional TOPO" vectors are powerful £ coli expression vectors that use the highly efficient T7 RNA polymerase to achieve high protein yields. T7 RNA polymerase is expressed by host £ coli under the control of the IPTG-inducible lacUV5 promoter. This allows you to regulate transcription with IPTG. The additional lacO element found in the T7 lac promoter used in these vectors further reduces basal expression levels while enabling strong transcriptional activity upon induction with IPTG. Reported yields of recombinant proteins from pET vectors are typically in the range of tens to hundreds of milligrams per liter of culture. TOPO cloning for mammalian expression For constitutive mammalian expression, the Invitrogen™ pcDNA™ mammalian expression vector is one of the most popular expression vectors available today. The newest versions are the pcDNA™ 3.3-T0P0" TA Vector and pcDNA" 3.4-T0P0™ TA Vector, which enable expression of exceptionally high levels of recombinant protein in mammalian cells and are ideal for use with our Gibco" Expi293™ and FreeStyle" Expression Systems. These vectors offer: • Two- to five-fold higher protein yields compared to other expression vectors • Generation of native (or tagged) proteins without extraneous amino acids—ideal for antibody production and structural biology • Full-length human cytomegalovirus (CMV) immediate-early promoter/enhancer for high-level gene expression in a wide range of mammalian cells • TOPO cloning site for rapid and efficient (>85%) cloning of Tag-amplified PCR products • Neomycin-resistance gene for selection of stable cell lines with Gibco" Geneticin™ antibiotic • pUC origin for high copy number and maintenance of the plasmid in £ coli ViraPower Hi Perform Lentiviral Expression Systems Invitrogen™ ViraPower™ HiPerform™ Lentiviral Expression Systems are designed to provide stable gene expression and reproducible delivery to both dividing and nondividing cells. This system offers: • Greater than four-fold increase in protein expression compared to other lentiviral vectors • Efficient gene delivery into cells that are virtually impossible to transfect • Accurate and fast 2-day titer determination of functional lentivirus • A choice of Gateway or TOPO TA cloning vectors ViraPower expression systems enable high levels of stable gene expression necessary for valid results in virtually any cell line, especially in primary or difficult-to-transfect cells. Did you know We also carry TOPO expression vectors for yeast, algae, and insect cells. Find the right vector for your research at thermofisher.com/vectors thermofisher.com/topo 9 Entry into the Gateway system The Gateway system is a powerful cloning technology that offers a rapid and highly efficient route to multiple expression systems (Figure 12). There are many ways to clone a gene, but only Gateway technology lets you rapidly transfer your gene into different expression vectors with minimal cloning effort. Take the first step toward accessing multiple expression vectors by simply cloning your gene into an Invitrogen™ Gateway" entry vector. Whether you prefer TOPO or restriction enzyme cloning with PCR products or Invitrogen" GeneArt" Strings™ DNA Fragments, we have a Gateway entry vector for you. Enter the Gateway system via: TOPO cloning Restriction enzyme cloning BP Clonase™ enzyme reaction DNA insert sources: PCR GeneArt Strings DNA Fragments Ultimate™ ORF Collection 4 Helpful tips Looking for an alternative to PCR for your cloning? GeneArt Strings DNA Fragments are custom-made, uncloned, double-stranded linear DNA fragments up to 3,000 bp in length, assembled from synthetic oligonucleotides using the same high-quality process developed for Invitrogen™ GeneArt™ Gene Synthesis. Strings DNA Fragments are delivered dried and ready for resuspension, cloning, and screening to enable identification of the correct clone. • Affordable—Strings DNA Fragments are a cost-effective alternative to complete gene synthesis • Flexible—full gene design and cloning flexibility with no template required; clone with any downstream method of choice, including TOPO TA cloning and Zero Blunt TOPO cloning • Streamlined—enter your gene sequence and directly edit, optimize, and order through our online GeneArt™ portal • Fast—at least 200 ng of Strings DNA Fragments are produced within 5 (for up to 1,000 bp) or 8 (for 1,000-3,000 bp) business days Find out more at thermofisher.com/strings Figure 12. The flexibility of Gateway technology. This powerful technology is designed to simplify cloning and provide a rapid and highly efficient route to multiple expression and functional analysis options. We offer several TOPO cloning kifs fhaf allow direct access to the Gateway system. Go to thermofisher.com/gateway to learn more about Gateway technology. 10 TOPO cloning Ordering information* Product Size Cat. No. TOPO TA cloning TOPO TA Cloning Kit for Subcloning, without competent cells 25 reactions 450641 10 reactions 451641 TOPO TA Cloning Kit for Subcloning, with One Shot TOP10 Chemically Competent £ coli cells 50 reactions K450040 25 reactions K450001 10 reactions K4500J10 TOPO TA Cloning Kit for Sequencing, without competent cells 25 reactions 450030 TOPO TA Cloning Kit for Sequencing, with One Shot TOP10 Chemically Competent £ coli cells 50 reactions K457540 25 reactions K457501 10 reactions K4575J10 High-fidelity blunt end TOPO cloning Zero Blunt TOPO PCR Cloning Kit, without competent cells 25 reactions 450245 10 reactions 451245 Zero Blunt TOPO PCR Cloning Kit, with One Shot TOP10 Chemically Competent £ coli cells 50 reactions K280040 25 reactions K280020 10 reactions K2800J10 Zero Blunt TOPO PCR Cloning Kit for Sequencing, without competent cells 25 reactions 450031 10 reactions 450159 Zero Blunt TOPO PCR Cloning Kit for Sequencing, with One Shot TOP10 Chemically Competent £ coli cells 50 reactions K287540 25 reactions K287520 10 reactions K2875J10 TOPO long-fragment cloning TOPO XL-2 Complete PCR Cloning Kit, with One Shot OmniMAX 2 T1n Chemically Competent £ coli Cells 20 reactions K8050-20 10 reactions K8050-10 TOPO directional and expression vector cloning pcDNA 3.1/V5-His TOPO TA Expression Kit 40 reactions K480040 20 reactions K480001 pcDNA 3.4 TOPO TA Cloning Kit 1 kit A14697 pcDNA 3.3 TOPO TA Cloning Kit 20 reactions K830001 Champion pET101 Directional TOPO Expression Kit with BL21 Star (DE3) One Shot Chemically Competent £ coli 20 reactions K10101 Entry into the Gateway system pENTR/D-TOPO Cloning Kit, with One Shot TOP10 Chemically Competent £ coli 20 reactions K240020 pCR8/GW/TOPO TA Cloning Kit with One Shot TOP10 £ coli 20 reactions K250020 pENTR/SD/D-TOPO Cloning Kit, with One Shot TOP10 Chemically Competent £ coli 20 reactions K242020 * Additional product formats and sizes available. thermofisher.com/topo 11 invitrogen Cloning just got simpler—for a full list of products and to select the best TtlGriTIOFishGf kit for your research, goto thermofisher.com/topo scientific For Research Use Only. 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