An efficient cloning method to expand vector and restriction site compatibility of Golden Gate Assembly

Abstract

Golden Gate Assembly is an efficient and rapid cloning method but requires dedicated vectors. Here, we modified Golden Gate to expand its compatibility to a broader range of destination vectors while maintaining its strengths. Our Expanded Golden Gate (ExGG) assembly adds to the insert(s) type IIS restriction sites that generate protruding ends compatible with traditional type IIP sites on the recipient vector. The ligated product cannot be cleaved again, owing to a single-base change near the junction. This allows the reaction to proceed in a single tube without an intermediate purification step. ExGG can be used to introduce multiple fragments into a vector simultaneously, including shorter fragments (<100bp) and fragments with shared sequences, which can be difficult to assemble with other fast cloning strategies. Thus, ExGG extends the convenience of Golden Gate to a much larger space of pre-existing vectors designed for conventional cloning.