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PCR optimisation
Protocol: PCR
PCR is a reaction that makes it possible (and relatively easy) to amplify
a certain region of DNA. The first step is the selection of that region
(and the design of the relevant primers). Primer design can be done by hand, or by
using our Primer Design Helper. Once
done, order the primers (in our case, we ordered from them [http://www.idtdna.com/ IDT]).
When you've received the primers, prepare them and make sure you've got your PCR kit (we used the "Phusion® High-Fidelity DNA Polymerase"). Start preparing your master mix, the composition for one tube is:
1X Mastermix 20μl reaction, add in this order
| Reagent | Volume [μl] |
|---|---|
| Water | Complete to total volume of 20μl |
| HF-Buffer (5x) | 4 |
| DMSO (optional) | 0.6 |
| dNTPs | 0.4 |
| Forward primer (50μM) | 0.2 |
| Reverse primer (50μM) | 0.2 |
| Template (10ng/μl) | 0.5 |
| Phusion HF polymerase | 0.2 |
Prepare one or two extra tubes-worth of reagent (you'll use some liquid on the walls of your tips).
Once you've finished, you should run the resulting products on a gel to check if everything went as planned.
Tips
- Thaw the HF-Buffer, DMSO and dNTPs before making the mastermix.
- Avoid taking the Phusion-HF polymerase out of the freezer (only take it out briefly when you need to add it).
- If the reactions have different primers and/or template, add the polymerase right after the dNTPs, split the mastermix and add the rest.
- Don't forget positive and negative controls
- Primers should have similar Tms (less than 5°C).
- Primer Tm calculation is a less exact science than it should be (just test several tools and compare their results). If you're not sure what the correct Tm is, consider using a gradient PCR.
- Avoid primers with strong secondary structures.
- PCR can introduce mutations. Don't forget to sequence your final product (this could be your final plasmid): you really don't want to lose a few weeks because of a "corrupt" plasmid.
In order to figure out why our PCRs give very random successful results, we thought about trying to compare between HF-Buffer protocol and GC-Buffer protocol and adding DMSO to both. We also added the four apparently successful pMP-LovTAP ligations to the templates, in order to check (in case one of the PCRs works) if we really have a LovTAP gene in the plasmid.
PCR'd genes: LovTAP, GFP, SEAP, TNFR.
Templates
- pMA-LovTAP
- pMP-LovTAP (L2)
- pMP-LovTAP (L3)
- PMP-LovTAP (L5)
- pMP-LovTAP (L9)
- pMP-PB IRES GFP
- pMP-PB SEAP-FLAG with pGL4.30 insertion primers
- pMP-PB SEAP-FLAG with Biobrick primers
- pMP-PB-TNFRFc with pGL4.30 insertion primers
- pMP-PB-TNFRFc with Biobrick primers
- Comments
Insert comments about what happened.
pMP-LovTAP digestion
Protocol: Restriction site digestion
- Look for the best pair of restriction sites, ideally with similar digestion temperatures and times.
- [http://tools.neb.com/NEBcutter2/ NEBcutter] for finding cutting enzymes.
- [http://www.neb.com/nebecomm/DoubleDigestCalculator.asp Double Digest Finder] for the parameters.
- Calculate the amounts required of:
- DNA
- Buffer (usually from 10x to 1x)
- BSA, if needed (usually from 100x to 1x)
- Enzymes (depends on the amount of DNA)
- Water
- Get the recommended buffer (and BSA if needed) from the freezer and let defreeze.
- Mix all the ingredients, except DNA, in a tube.
- Note: Enzymes should stay no longer than a couple of minutes out of the freezer. Don't touch the bottom of the tubes! Don't vortex!
- Distribute the mix in as many tubes as DNA samples and add the DNA.
- Keep in the Thermomixer at the recommended temperature.
Sowmya's recommended amounts (50 µl total solution):
- 5 µl of 10x buffer
- 0.5 µl of 100x BSA
- 1 µl of each enzyme
- 5 µl of DNA
- 37.5 (up to 50 µl) of water.
Protocol based on what was done on July the 4th.
We also performed another digestion on pMP-LovTAP to check the nature of the backbone this time.
- Comments
Insert comments about what happened.
pMP-LovTAP transformation for maxipreps
Protocol: Restriction site digestion
- Look for the best pair of restriction sites, ideally with similar digestion temperatures and times.
- [http://tools.neb.com/NEBcutter2/ NEBcutter] for finding cutting enzymes.
- [http://www.neb.com/nebecomm/DoubleDigestCalculator.asp Double Digest Finder] for the parameters.
- Calculate the amounts required of:
- DNA
- Buffer (usually from 10x to 1x)
- BSA, if needed (usually from 100x to 1x)
- Enzymes (depends on the amount of DNA)
- Water
- Get the recommended buffer (and BSA if needed) from the freezer and let defreeze.
- Mix all the ingredients, except DNA, in a tube.
- Note: Enzymes should stay no longer than a couple of minutes out of the freezer. Don't touch the bottom of the tubes! Don't vortex!
- Distribute the mix in as many tubes as DNA samples and add the DNA.
- Keep in the Thermomixer at the recommended temperature.
Sowmya's recommended amounts (50 µl total solution):
- 5 µl of 10x buffer
- 0.5 µl of 100x BSA
- 1 µl of each enzyme
- 5 µl of DNA
- 37.5 (up to 50 µl) of water.
Protocol based on what was done on July the 4th.
Second attempt to transform our ligation product without E.Coli overgrowth.
- Comments
Insert comments about what happened.
