BASIC: A Simple and Accurate Modular DNA Assembly Method.

Abstract

Biopart Assembly Standard for Idempotent Cloning (BASIC) is a simple, robust, and highly accurate DNA assembly method, which provides 99% correct assemblies for a typical four-part assembly, enabling high efficiency cloning workflows (Storch et al., ACS Synth Biol, https://doi.org/10.1021/sb500356 , 2015). BASIC employs standardised DNA linkers to combine bioparts, stored in the universal BASIC format. Once a new biopart is formatted into BASIC standard, defined by flanking 18bp prefix and suffix sequences, it can be placed at any position and in any context within a designed BASIC assembly. This modularity of the BASIC approach is further enhanced by a range of functional linkers, including genetic elements like ribosomal binding sites (RBS) and peptide linkers. The method has a single tier format, whereby any BASIC assembly can create a new composite BASIC part in the same format used for the original parts; it can thus enter a subsequent BASIC assembly without the need for reformatting or changes to the workflow. This unique idempotent cloning mechanism allows for the assembly of constructs in multiple, conceptionally simple hierarchical rounds. Combined with its high accuracy and robustness, this makes BASIC a versatile assembly method for combinatorial and complex assemblies both at bench and biofoundry scale. The single universal storage format of BASIC parts enables compressed universal biopart libraries that promote sharing of parts and reproducible assembly strategies across labs, supporting efforts to improve reproducibility. In comparison with other DNA assembly standards and methods, BASIC offers a simple robust protocol, relies on a single tier format, provides for easy hierarchical assembly, and is highly accurate for up to seven parts per assembly round (Casini et al., Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrm4014 , 2015).