Invitrogen™ pBAD202 Directional TOPO™ Expression Kit

Catalog No.	Quantity
K420201	20 reactions

Catalog No. K420201 Supplier Invitrogen™ Supplier No. K420201

Description

Clones PCR product at high efficiency in five minutes into a topoisomerase I-activated expression vector

Using restriction enzymes to clone gene into an expression vector often forces to compromise final sequence of insert, especially when there are no useful restriction sites close to genes coding sequence. This may result in suboptimal spacing of expression elements or incorporation of non-native amino acid residues, which can reduce expression levels and/or cause production of non-functional protein.

• TOPO Expression Vectors enable to insert exact DNA sequence require simply by performing PCR with appropriately designed primers
• Resulting recombinant expression vector contains exact DNA sequence without any noncoding regions
• Several expression vectors are adapted for Directional TOPO Cloning, enabling to use proofreading polymerases and to clone the PCR products in a specific orientation

Bacterial Expression, Protein Expression, Proteins, Expression, Isolation and Analysis

Specifications

• Constitutive or Inducible System: Inducible
• Inducing Agent: Arabinose
• Promoter: araBAD
• Product Type: TOPO Expression Kit
• Selection Agent (Eukaryotic): None
• Antibiotic Resistance Bacterial: Kanamycin (KanR)
• Bacterial or Yeast Strain: LMG194, TOP10
• Cleavage: EK (Enterokinase) Recognition Site
• Expression System: E. coli
• Expression Mechanism: Cell-Based Expression
• Protein Tag: His Tag (6x), V5 Epitope Tag, Thioredoxin
• Cloning Method: Directional TOPO
• Quantity: 20 reactions
• Vector: pBAD
• Product Line: TOPO

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How much L-arabinose should I use to induce expression with the pBAD expression system?

While the amount of L-arabinose can vary depending on your expression experiment, we suggest performing a pilot expression experiment with varying amounts of L-arabinose from 0.00002% to 0.2%.

Should I use TOP10 cells or the LMG194 E. coli strain you offer for expression with my pBAD system?

Top10

Advantages:
- Saves time, can go directly from cloning to expression.
- The glycerol stock is more stable because these strains are endA- and recA-.

Disdvantages:
- This strain is not protease-deficient. Therefore, the protein may be degraded.

LMG194

Advantages:
- Grows well in minimal media, except M9.
-Have to transform the plasmid into the cells just for expression.
-RM medium with glucose to ensure low basal level of protein.

Disadvantages:
- Not protease-deficient. Therefore, the protein may be degraded.
- The glycerol stock may not be stable because this cell strain is not recA- or endA-.

What competent cells do you recommend I use for expression with my pBAD expression system?

We recommend using a competent cell strain that is araBADC- and araEFGH+, allowing transportation of L-arabinose, but not metabolizing it. This is important for expression studies, as the level of L-arabinose will be constant inside the cell and will not decrease over time. We offer our TOP10 competent cells, or our LMG194 E. coli strain.

Can you tell me the sequence of primers that can be used in pBAD vectors to sequence my gene of interest?

The pBAD vectors contain a forward and reverse pBAD primer flanking the gene of interest. The sequences are as follows:

pBAD forward primer: 5'-ATGCCATAGCATTTTTATCC-3'

pBAD reverse primer: 5'-GATTTAATCTGTATCAGG-3'

Do you have a list of the cap colors for the pBAD vectors?

Here are the cap colors:

- pBAD/His A: Red

- pBAD/His B: Orange

- pBAD/His C: Yellow

- pBAD/His LacZ: Green

- pBad/gIII A: Yellow

- pBad/gIII B: Green

- pBad/gIII C: Blue

- pBAD/gIII/calmodulin: Purple

How does the regulation of the araBAD (pBAD) promoter work?

The araBAD promoter (pBAD) used to control expression of T7 RNA polymerase in BL21-AI is both positively and negatively regulated by the product of the araC gene (Ogden et al., 1980; Schleif, 1992). AraC is a transcriptional regulator that forms a complex with L-arabinose. In the absence of L-arabinose, the AraC dimer contacts the O2 and I1 half sites of the araBAD operon, forming a 210 bp DNA loop. For maximum transcriptional activation, two events are required.

- L-arabinose binds to AraC and causes the protein to release the O2 site and bind the I2 site that is adjacent to the I1 site. This releases the DNA loop and allows transcription to begin.
- The cAMP activator protein (CAP)-cAMP complex binds to the DNA and stimulates binding of AraC to I1 and I2.

Please note, basal expression levels can be repressed by introducing glucose to the growth medium. Glucose acts by lowering cAMP levels, which in turn decreases the binding of CAP. As cAMP levels are lowered, transcriptional activation is decreased.

What arabinose should I use for induction of my pBAD expression system?

We recommend using L-arabinose to regulate expression of your gene when using the pBAD expression system. In the presence of L-arabinose, expression from pBAD is turned on while the absence of L-arabinose produces very low levels of transcription from pBAD (Lee, 1980 [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Lee%2C+1980+pbad]; Lee et al., 1987 [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Lee%2C+1987+arbinose]).

What are the benefits of the pBAD expression system?

The pBAD expression system allows tightly controlled, titratable expression of your protein through the regulation of specific carbon sources such as glucose, glycerol, and arabinose. pBAD is ideal for expressing toxic proteins and optimizing protein solubility in E. coli. The system helps to produce proteins at a level just below the threshold at which they become insoluble. The regulatory elements of the E. coli arabinose operon are used in the pBAD vectors to precisely modulate heterologous expression levels, allowing optimization of the yields of the protein of interest. The regulatory protein, AraC, is provided on the pBAD vector backbone, allowing for regulation of pBAD.

Do I need to include a ribosomal binding site (RBS/Shine Dalgarno sequence) or Kozak sequence when I clone my gene of interest?

ATG is often sufficient for efficient translation initiation although it depends upon the gene of interest. The best advice is to keep the native start site found in the cDNA unless one knows that it is not functionally ideal. If concerned about expression, it is advisable to test two constructs, one with the native start site and the other with a Shine Dalgarno sequence/RBS or consensus Kozak sequence (ACCAUGG), as the case may be. In general, all expression vectors that have an N-terminal fusion will already have a RBS or initiation site for translation.

What is the best molar ratio of PCR product:vector to use for TOPO TA cloning? Is there an equation to calculate the quantity to use?

We suggest starting with a molar ratio of 1:1 (insert:vector), with a range of 0.5:1 to 2:1. The quantity used in a TOPO cloning reaction is typically 5-10 ng of a 2 kb PCR product.

Equation:

length of insert (bp)/length of vector (bp) x ng of vector = ng of insert needed for 1:1 (insert:vector ratio)

What is the best ratio of insert:vector to use for cloning? Is there an equation to calculate this?

The optimal ratio is 1:1 insert to vector. Optimization can be done using a ratio of 0.5-2 molecules of insert for every molecule of the vector.

Equation:

length of insert (bp)/length of vector (bp) x ng of vector = ng of insert needed for 1:1 insert:vector ratio

Can I use Taq polymerase to generate my gene of interest for directional TOPO cloning?

No, your gene of interest must be amplified with a proofreading polymerase such as Platinum SuperFi DNA Polymerase or AccuPrime Pfx DNA Polymerase that leaves blunt ends for directional TOPO cloning.

What are the requirements for primer design when using directional TOPO cloning?

Please consider the following when designing your primers:

- The 3' pcr primer cannot contain homology to the 5' flap sequence GTGG.
- The enzyme you use must create a blunt-ended PCR product for cloning.
- Primers cannot contain 5' phosphates, which will block the 5' OH nucleophile reactive group.
- The reading frame must be considered when you are designing your primers.

Which PCR polymerases do you recommend for TA/Blunt/D-TOPO cloning and why?

TA Cloning:
- This cloning method was designed for use with pure Taq polymerases (native, recombinant, hot start); however, High Fidelity or Taq blends generally work well with TA cloning. A 10:1 or 15:1 ratio of Taq to proofreader polymerase will still generate enough 3' A overhangs for TA cloning.
- Recommended polymerases include Platinum Taq, Accuprime Taq, Platinum or Accuprime Taq High Fidelity, AmpliTaq, AmpliTaq Gold, or AmpliTaq Gold 360.

Blunt cloning:
- Use a proofreading enzyme such as Platinum SuperFi DNA Polymerase.

Directional TOPO cloning:
- Platinum SuperFi DNA Polymerase works well.

Can you tell me the difference between a Shine-Dalgarno sequence and a Kozak sequence?

Prokaryotic mRNAs contain a Shine-Dalgarno sequence, also known as a ribosome binding site (RBS), which is composed of the polypurine sequence AGGAGG located just 5’ of the AUG initiation codon. This sequence allows the message to bind efficiently to the ribosome due to its complementarity with the 3’-end of the 16S rRNA. Similarly, eukaryotic (and specifically mammalian) mRNA also contains sequence information important for efficient translation. However, this sequence, termed a Kozak sequence, is not a true ribosome binding site, but rather a translation initiation enhancer. The Kozak consensus sequence is ACCAUGG, where AUG is the initiation codon. A purine (A/G) in position -3 has a dominant effect; with a pyrimidine (C/T) in position -3, translation becomes more sensitive to changes in positions -1, -2, and +4. Expression levels can be reduced up to 95% when the -3 position is changed from a purine to pyrimidine. The +4 position has less influence on expression levels where approximately 50% reduction is seen. See the following references:

- Kozak, M. (1986) Point mutations define a sequence flanking the AUG initiator codon that modulates translation by eukaryotic ribosomes. Cell 44, 283-292.
- Kozak, M. (1987) At least six nucleotides preceding the AUG initiator codon enhance translation in mammalian cells. J. Mol. Biol. 196, 947-950.
- Kozak, M. (1987) An analysis of 5´-noncoding sequences from 699 vertebrate messenger RNAs. Nucleic Acids Res. 15, 8125-8148.
- Kozak, M. (1989) The scanning model for translation: An update. J. Cell Biol. 108, 229-241.
- Kozak, M. (1990) Evaluation of the fidelity of initiation of translation in reticulocyte lysates from commercial sources. Nucleic Acids Res. 18, 2828.

Note: The optimal Kozak sequence for Drosophila differs slightly, and yeast do not follow this rule at all. See the following references:

- Romanos, M.A., Scorer, C.A., Clare, J.J. (1992) Foreign gene expression in yeast: a review. Yeast 8, 423-488.
- Cavaneer, D.R. (1987) Comparison of the consensus sequence flanking translational start sites in Drosophila and vertebrates. Nucleic Acids Res. 15, 1353-1361.

What protein yields should I expect to get with the pRSET expression vectors?

We've expressed CAT and Beta-Gal in volumes from 2 ml to 50 ml and get about 20-50 µg protein/ml of culture. Protein yield is dependent on the type of protein being expressed and the culturing conditions.

What is the purpose of the RBS sequence found in prokaryotic vectors?

The RBS, which stands for Ribosomal Binding Site, is required for translational initiation in E. coli, and consists primarily of purines. The consensus core region, or Shine-Dalgarno sequence (AGGAGG) is frequently located 8-12 base pairs upstream of the initiating codon AUG. This sequence forms base pairs with a complementary sequence located at the 3' end of the 16S rRNA molecule of the ribosome and assists in the recognition of the proper AUG of translation initiation.

What is the purpose of the -35 and -10 consensus region, or sequence, that is found in prokaryotic promoters?

In prokaryotes, such as E. coli, the promoter consists of two short regulatory sequences located 10 and 35 nucleotides upstream of the gene, respectively. The sequence located at -10 is called the Pribnow box (consensus sequence: TATAAT) and is absolutely essential for the transcription initiation. The sequence at -35 (consensus sequence: TTGACA) facilitates high transcription rate. Both regions are recognized by the sigma subunit of RNA polymerase, and instruct the holoenzyme where to start transcription. Once polymerization begins, the sigma subunit dissociates, and the core enzyme continues to transcribe the DNA template.

Has Invitrogen mapped the exact transcriptional start site of the pBAD promoter?

No, the exact start site of the pBAD promoter has not been determined experimentally.

How should the pBAD promoter be induced when the cells are growing under maximal repression (i.e. in the presence of D-glucose)?

If the construct is growing under maximal repression (i.e. in LMG194 with D-glucose in RM media), the cells should be harvested and resuspended in RM medium containing 0.2% glycerol and the appropriate concentration of arabinose (determined empirically). If cells are growing in LB medium, then arabinose may be added directly to the medium. Note that TOP10 cells will not grow in RM medium.

What strains of E. coli should be used with the pBAD inducible promoter system?

Any E. coli strain that is araBADC- and araEFGH+ is suitable for use with the pBAD promoter. Suitable strains that can be used include TOP10, TOP10F', and DH10B. Cells that are not araBADC- and therefore cannot be used with pBAD constructs, include DH5alpha, OmniMAX, Mach1, BL21(DE3) and INValphaF'.

What media should be used to grow the LMG194 strain? Will LMG194 grow in M9 alone?

LMG194 will grow in LB and RM medium that contains M9 salts. LMG194 will not grow in M9 salts alone. RM medium is used to ensure low basal expression levels from the pBAD promoter.

Please note that we do not support the use of LMG194 cells for any applications other than with the pBAD expression system.

What is the purpose of the LMG194 strain provided in the pBAD Kits?

The LMG194 strain is provided to allow for growth of your plasmid construct under conditions of maximal repression. This strain is capable of growth on minimal media that includes glucose as the sole carbon source. Glucose provides maximal repression of the pBAD promoter. Use of the LMG194 strain is not absolutely necessary since the TOP10 strain may also be used for expression.

Note: all suitable strains must have mutations in the ara gene locus to prevent the breakdown of arabinose when it is added to the medium.

What concentration of tetracycline should be used for selecting the LMG194 strain?

The LMG194 strain can be selected on LB plates containing 25 ug/mL tetracycline.

What is the molecular weight of the L-arabinose included in the pBAD kits?

The molecular weight of arabinose is 150.1 g/mol.

What is the difference between vectors that contain a pUC origin and vectors that contain a pBR322 origin?

Both pBR322 and pUC vectors have the same origin of replication. The locus that controls copy number is the "rop" locus; in pUC vectors, the rop locus is mutated to allow for much higher copy numbers. Therefore plasmids containing the pUC origin produce a high copy number of the plasmid. Most Invitrogen vectors have origins of replications that are pUC-derived and yield a high amount of DNA in E. coli. Plasmids derived from pBR322 will yield a lower plasmid copy number than plasmids derived from pUC. pBR322 gives about 15-20 copies per cell, while pUC gives about 500-700 copies.

I sequenced one of your vectors after PCR amplification and observed a difference from what is provided online (or in the manual). Should I be concerned?

Our vectors have not been completely sequenced. Your sequence data may differ when compared to what is provided. Known mutations that do not affect the function of the vector are annotated in public databases.

Are your vectors routinely sequenced?

No, our vectors are not routinely sequenced. Quality control and release criteria utilize other methods.

How was the reference sequence for your vectors created?

Sequences provided for our vectors have been compiled from information in sequence databases, published sequences, and other sources.

What is a Shine-Dalgarno sequence?

Prokaryotic mRNAs contain a Shine-Dalgarno sequence, also known as a ribosome binding site (RBS), which is composed of the polypurine sequence AGGAGG located just 5’ of the AUG initiation codon. The Shine-Dalgarno sequence allows the message to bind efficiently to the ribosome due to its complementarity with the 3’-end of the 16S rRNA.

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.