Cloning Platform Research Articles

Antigen-Specific Single B Cell Sorting and Monoclonal Antibody Cloning in Guinea Pigs.

Here, we have established an antigen-specific single B cell sorting and monoclonal antibody (mAb) cloning platform for analyzing immunization- or viral infection-elicited antibody response at the clonal level in guinea pigs. We stained the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from a guinea pig immunized with HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein trimer mimic (BG505 SOSIP), using anti-guinea pig IgG and IgM fluorochrome conjugates, along with fluorochrome-conjugated BG505 SOSIP trimer as antigen (Ag) probe to sort for Ag-specific IgGhi IgMlo B cells at single cell density. We then designed a set of guinea pig immunoglobulin (Ig) gene-specific primers to amplify cDNAs encoding B cell receptor variable regions [V(D)J segments] from the sorted Ag-specific B cells. B cell V(D)J sequences were verified by sequencing and annotated by IgBLAST, followed by cloning into Ig heavy- and light-chain expression vectors containing human IgG1 constant regions and co-transfection into 293F cells to reconstitute full-length antibodies in a guinea pig-human chimeric IgG1 format. Of 88 antigen-specific B cells isolated, we recovered 24 (27%) cells with native-paired heavy and light chains. Furthermore, 85% of the expressed recombinant mAbs bind positively to the antigen probe by enzyme-linked immunosorbent and/or BioLayer Interferometry assays, while five mAbs from four clonal lineages neutralize the HIV-1 tier 1 virus ZM109. In summary, by coupling Ag-specific single B cell sorting with gene-specific single cell RT-PCR, our method exhibits high efficiency and accuracy, which will facilitate future efforts in isolating mAbs and analyzing B cell responses to infections or immunizations in the guinea pig model.

Assessment of Cas12a-mediated gene editing efficiency in plants.

SummaryThe CRISPR/Cas12a editing system opens new possibilities for plant genome engineering. To obtain a comparative assessment of RNA‐guided endonuclease (RGEN) types in plants, we adapted the CRISPR/Cas12a system to the GoldenBraid (GB) modular cloning platform and compared the efficiency of Acidaminococcus (As) and Lachnospiraceae (Lb) Cas12a variants with the previously described GB‐assembled Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 (SpCas9) constructs in eight Nicotiana benthamiana loci using transient expression. All three nucleases showed drastic target‐dependent differences in efficiency, with LbCas12 producing higher mutagenesis rates in five of the eight loci assayed, as estimated with the T7E1 endonuclease assay. Attempts to engineer crRNA direct repeat (DR) had little effect improving on‐target efficiency for AsCas12a and resulted deleterious in the case of LbCas12a. To complete the assessment of Cas12a activity, we carried out genome editing experiments in three different model plants, namely N. benthamiana, Solanum lycopersicum and Arabidopsis thaliana. For the latter, we also resequenced Cas12a‐free segregating T2 lines to assess possible off‐target effects. Our results showed that the mutagenesis footprint of Cas12a is enriched in deletions of −10 to −2 nucleotides and included in some instances complex rearrangements in the surroundings of the target sites. We found no evidence of off‐target mutations neither in related sequences nor somewhere else in the genome. Collectively, this study shows that LbCas12a is a viable alternative to SpCas9 for plant genome engineering.

Creation of versatile cloning platforms for transgene expression and dCas9-based epigenome editing.

Genetic manipulation via transgene overexpression, RNAi, or Cas9-based methods is central to biomedical research. Unfortunately, use of these tools is often limited by vector options. We have created a modular platform (pMVP) that allows a gene of interest to be studied in the context of an array of promoters, epitope tags, conditional expression modalities, and fluorescent reporters, packaged in 35 custom destination vectors, including adenovirus, lentivirus, PiggyBac transposon, and Sleeping Beauty transposon, in aggregate >108,000 vector permutations. We also used pMVP to build an epigenetic engineering platform, pMAGIC, that packages multiple gRNAs and either Sa-dCas9 or x-dCas9(3.7) fused to one of five epigenetic modifiers. Importantly, via its compatibility with adenoviral vectors, pMAGIC uniquely enables use of dCas9/LSD1 fusions to interrogate enhancers within primary cells. To demonstrate this, we used pMAGIC to target Sa-dCas9/LSD1 and modify the epigenetic status of a conserved enhancer, resulting in altered expression of the homeobox transcription factor PDX1 and its target genes in pancreatic islets and insulinoma cells. In sum, the pMVP and pMAGIC systems empower researchers to rapidly generate purpose-built, customized vectors for manipulation of gene expression, including via targeted epigenetic modification of regulatory elements in a broad range of disease-relevant cell types.

A uniform cloning platform for mycobacterial genetics and protein production

Molecular research on mycobacteria relies on a multitude of tools for the genetic manipulation of these clinically important bacteria. However, a uniform set of vectors allowing for standardized cloning procedures is not available. Here, we developed a versatile series of mycobacterial vectors for gene deletion, complementation and protein production and purification. The vectors are compatible with fragment exchange (FX) cloning, a recently developed high-throughput cloning principle taking advantage of the type IIS restriction enzyme SapI and its capacity to generate sticky trinucleotide ends outside of its recognition sequence. FX cloning allows for the efficient cloning into an entry vector and the facile transfer of the sequenced insert into a variety of destination vectors. We generated a set of mycobacterial expression vectors spanning a wide range of expression strengths, tagging variants and selection markers to rapidly screen for the optimal expression construct in order to purify membrane proteins from the model organism Mycobacterium smegmatis. Further, we generated a series of suicide vectors containing two counterselection markers and used them to delete twenty genes encoding for potential drug efflux pumps in M. smegmatis. The vectors will further facilitate genetic and biochemical research on various mycobacterial species.

FungalBraid: A GoldenBraid-based modular cloning platform for the assembly and exchange of DNA elements tailored to fungal synthetic biology

Current challenges in the study and biotechnological exploitation of filamentous fungi are the optimization of DNA cloning and fungal genetic transformation beyond model fungi, the open exchange of ready-to-use and standardized genetic elements among the research community, and the availability of universal synthetic biology tools and rules. The GoldenBraid (GB) cloning framework is a Golden Gate-based DNA cloning system developed for plant synthetic biology through Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated genetic transformation (ATMT). In this study, we develop reagents for the adaptation of GB version 3.0 from plants to filamentous fungi through: (i) the expansion of the GB toolbox with the domestication of fungal-specific genetic elements; (ii) the design of fungal-specific GB structures; and (iii) the ATMT and gene disruption of the plant pathogen Penicillium digitatum as a proof of concept. Genetic elements domesticated into the GB entry vector pUPD2 include promoters, positive and negative selection markers and terminators. Interestingly, some GB elements can be directly exchanged between plants and fungi, as demonstrated with the marker hph for HygR or the fluorescent protein reporter YFP. The iterative modular assembly of elements generates an endless number of diverse transcriptional units and other higher order combinations in the pDGB3α/pDGB3Ω destination vectors. Furthermore, the original plant GB syntax was adapted here to incorporate specific GB structures for gene disruption through homologous recombination and dual selection. We therefore have successfully adapted the GB technology for the ATMT of fungi. We propose the name of FungalBraid (FB) for this new branch of the GB technology that provides open, exchangeable and collaborative resources to the fungal research community.

Versatile Cas9-Driven Subpopulation Selection Toolbox for Lactococcus lactis.

CRISPR-Cas9 technology has been exploited for the removal or replacement of genetic elements in a wide range of prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Here, we describe the extension of the Cas9 application toolbox to the industrially important dairy species Lactococcus lactis The Cas9 expression vector pLABTarget, encoding the Streptocccus pyogenes Cas9 under the control of a constitutive promoter, was constructed, allowing plug and play introduction of short guide RNA (sgRNA) sequences to target specific genetic loci. Introduction of a pepN-targeting derivative of pLABTarget into L. lactis strain MG1363 led to a strong reduction in the number of transformants obtained, which did not occur in a pepN deletion derivative of the same strain, demonstrating the specificity and lethality of the Cas9-mediated double-strand breaks in the lactococcal chromosome. Moreover, the same pLABTarget derivative allowed the selection of a pepN deletion subpopulation from its corresponding single-crossover plasmid integrant precursor, accelerating the construction and selection of gene-specific deletion derivatives in L. lactis Finally, pLABTarget, which contained sgRNAs designed to target mobile genetic elements, allowed the effective curing of plasmids, prophages, and integrative conjugative elements (ICEs). These results establish that pLABTarget enables the effective exploitation of Cas9 targeting in L. lactis, while the broad-host-range vector used suggests that this toolbox could readily be expanded to other Gram-positive bacteria.IMPORTANCE Mobile genetic elements in Lactococcus lactis and other lactic acid bacteria (LAB) play an important role in dairy fermentation, having both positive and detrimental effects during the production of fermented dairy products. The pLABTarget vector offers an efficient cloning platform for Cas9 application in lactic acid bacteria. Targeting Cas9 toward mobile genetic elements enabled their effective curing, which is of particular interest in the context of potentially problematic prophages present in a strain. Moreover, Cas9 targeting of other mobile genetic elements enables the deciphering of their contribution to dairy fermentation processes and further establishment of their importance for product characteristics.

Broad-Host-Range Expression Reveals Native and Host Regulatory Elements That Influence Heterologous Antibiotic Production in Gram-Negative Bacteria.

ABSTRACTHeterologous expression has become a powerful tool for studying microbial biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). Here, we extend the transformation-associated recombination cloning and heterologous expression platform for microbial BGCs to include Gram-negative proteobacterial expression hosts. Using a broad-host-range expression platform, we test the implicit assumption that biosynthetic pathways are more successfully expressed in more closely related heterologous hosts. Cloning and expression of the violacein BGC from Pseudoalteromonas luteoviolacea 2ta16 revealed robust production in two proteobacterial hosts, Pseudomonas putida KT2440 and Agrobacterium tumefaciens LBA4404, but very little production of the antibiotic in various laboratory strains of Escherichia coli, despite their closer phylogenetic relationship. We identified a nonclustered LuxR-type quorum-sensing receptor from P. luteoviolacea 2ta16, PviR, that increases pathway transcription and violacein production in E. coli by ∼60-fold independently of acyl-homoserine lactone autoinducers. Although E. coli harbors the most similar homolog of PviR identified from all of the hosts tested, overexpression of various E. coli transcription factors did not result in a statistically significant increase in violacein production, while overexpression of two A. tumefaciens PviR homologs significantly increased production. Thus, this work not only introduces a new genetic platform for the heterologous expression of microbial BGCs, it also challenges the assumption that host phylogeny is an accurate predictor of host compatibility.

Modular Protein Expression Toolbox (MoPET), a standardized assembly system for defined expression constructs and expression optimization libraries.

The design and generation of an optimal expression construct is the first and essential step in in the characterization of a protein of interest. Besides evaluation and optimization of process parameters (e.g. selection of the best expression host or cell line and optimal induction conditions and time points), the design of the expression construct itself has a major impact. However, the path to this final expression construct is often not straight forward and includes multiple learning cycles accompanied by design variations and retesting of construct variants, since multiple, functional DNA sequences of the expression vector backbone, either coding or non-coding, can have a major impact on expression yields. To streamline the generation of defined expression constructs of otherwise difficult to express proteins, the Modular Protein Expression Toolbox (MoPET) has been developed. This cloning platform allows highly efficient DNA assembly of pre-defined, standardized functional DNA modules with a minimal cloning burden. Combining these features with a standardized cloning strategy facilitates the identification of optimized DNA expression constructs in shorter time. The MoPET system currently consists of 53 defined DNA modules divided into eight functional classes and can be flexibly expanded. However, already with the initial set of modules, 792,000 different constructs can be rationally designed and assembled. Furthermore, this starting set was used to generate small and mid-sized combinatorial expression optimization libraries. Applying this screening approach, variants with up to 60-fold expression improvement have been identified by MoPET variant library screening.

12PD - MemoMAB, a novel technology for the banking and screening of cognate human immunoreceptor repertoires

Aim/Background: Providing a platform for the comprehensive analysis of the repertoires of human T and B cells in recombinant form while preserving the original heavy and light chain pairing of immunoreceptors (cognate, non-combinatorial libraries). Discovery of antibodies and TCRs generated in response to immune-stimulation such as administration of checkpoint inhibitors in cancer immunotherapy. Methods: A high throughput microfluidics-based single-cell molecular cloning and recombinant expression platform was developed that enables the generation of cognate human immunoreceptor repertoire libraries from human B and T cells (MemoMAB platform). Screening of this library can be performed by high-throughput single-cell-based mammalian display methods such as cell surface expression followed by cytometric sorting or encapsulation and culture of single recombinant cells in nanoliter reactors followed by functional screenings. Results: Using the MemoMAB platform technology, we have generated and screened antibody repertoire libraries from more than 100’000 human memory B cells from several human donors. Initial proof of concept of the platform has been performed in rabbits where monoclonal antibodies to several targets have been identified using cell surface expression or single cell encapsulation in nanoliter reactors. Conclusions: The generation of human cognate antibody repertoire analysis comprising 100’000 and more human memory B cells is feasible. Screening of these libraries is a straightforward process directly leading to the identification of clonal cell lines producing the immunoreceptor of interest in recombinant form. This tool can be expected to aid in the discovery of novel antibodies and their targets as candidate agents for cancer immuno-therapy. A particular area of interest for the application of the MemoMAB technology would be the analysis of antibody and T cell repertoires of patients undergoing immune-checkpoint-inhibitor therapy with the goal to identify novel immunogenic determinants for cancer immunotherapy. Legal entity responsible for the study: Klonale Analyse von menschlichen Antikörperrepertoires (2016-01260) Kantonale Ethikkommission Zürich Funding: Memo Therapeutics AG Disclosure: C. Esslinger: Shareholder and employee of Memo Therapeutics. S. Schmitt, M. Weber, A. Guimaraes: Employee of Memo Therapeutics.

140. Point Mutation Correction for ADA SCID

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency is a rare genetic disease characterised by the absence of the ADA enzyme (EC 3.5.4.4) involved in purine salvage and degradation. Patients lacking ADA build up adenosine and deoxyadenosine metabolites in the organism, something that in turn leads to an accumulation of other deoxynucleotides and gives rise to functional defects in all lymphocyte lineages and severe combined immunodeficiency (ADA SCID). This SCID phenotype can be corrected by hematopoietic stem cell transplant, enzyme replacement therapy, and integrative gene therapy protocols employing autologous CD34+ cells. ADA deficiency confers a positive selective advantage to corrected lymphocytes over deficient cells, thus offering a great system for the study of novel molecular therapies such as gene editing. The advent of the CRISPR/Cas9 system has allowed for the swift tailoring of novel gene editing strategies in laboratories without access to advanced cloning platforms. We believe this democratisation of gene editing has also made more practicable the therapeutic reversal of genetic mutations into wild type sequences, the ultimate form of genetic correction. We have designed a CRISPR/Cas9 strategy that can target the nonsense Q3X (ADA c7C>T) point mutation endemic to ADA SCID patients of Somali origin residing in the UK, as well as its equivalent site in wild type sequences. In the present work we show evidence of the Q3X site non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) gene ablation in Jurkat cells by means of DNA sequencing and ADA protein readouts (approximately 70% efficiency). Moreover, we have designed a donor for the Q3X repair step that contains an adjacent traceable silent mutation in order to track any homology directed repair (HDR) when working with wild type cells. Here we show preliminary evidence of Q3X site HDR in wild type Jurkat cells in DNA sequencing results by detection of the aforementioned traceable mutation, albeit with low efficiency (less than 3% efficiency). We are currently attempting the translation of this approach into human CD34+ cells, the ultimate target cell population for the correction of the SCID phenotype in ADA deficient patients.

COLORFUL-Circuit: A Platform for Rapid Multigene Assembly, Delivery, and Expression in Plants.

Advancing basic and applied plant research requires the continuous innovative development of the available technology toolbox. Essential components of this toolbox are methods that simplify the assembly, delivery, and expression of multiple transgenes of interest. To allow simultaneous and directional multigene assembly on the same plant transformation vector, several strategies based on overlapping sequences or restriction enzymes have recently been developed. However, the assembly of homologous and repetitive DNA sequences can be inefficient and the frequent occurrence of target sequences recognized by commonly used restriction enzymes can be a limiting factor. Here, we noted that recognition sites for the restriction enzyme SfiI are rarely occurring in plant genomes. This fact was exploited to establish a multigene assembly system called “COLORFUL-Circuit.” To this end, we developed a set of binary vectors which provide a flexible and cost efficient cloning platform. The gene expression cassettes in our system are flanked with unique SfiI sites, which allow simultaneous multi-gene cassette assembly in a hosting binary vector. We used COLORFUL-Circuit to transiently and stably express up to four fluorescent organelle markers in addition to a selectable marker and analyzed the impact of assembly design on coexpression efficiency. Finally, we demonstrate the utility of our optimized “COLORFUL-Circuit” system in an exemplary case study, in which we monitored simultaneously the subcellular behavior of multiple organelles in a biotrophic plant–microbe interaction by Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy.

Single clone expression cloning and protein microarray platforms for the identification of novel viral immunomodulatory proteins (VIR9P.1157)

Abstract Viruses encode proteins that interact with surface receptors on immune cells to evade recognition and elimination by the host immune system. In this study, we focused on the E3/49K protein of human adenoviruses D (HAdV D) a highly diverse protein uniquely found in HAdVs D that was recently demonstrated to suppress leukocyte activation and effector functions through an interaction with receptor tyrosine phosphatase CD45 on immune cells. To advance the search for novel immunomodulatory receptors targeted by the E3/49K protein, we utilized two complementary high-throughput screening technologies consisting of single clone expression cloning and protein microarray platforms. Two highly divergent E3/49 proteins, encoded by HAdV-28 and HAdv-53 serotypes, were systematically probed against thousands of interactions either expressed on the cell-surface or displayed on a protein microarray. We found that both HAdV-28 and HAdV-53 E3/49K proteins interacted with CD45. Furthermore, we report the discovery of two additional receptors specifically targeted by HAdV-28, the leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor 1 (LILRB1), a well known immune receptor with inhibitory functions, and putative neuronal cell adhesion molecule (PUNC). Interestingly, we found that PUNC is expressed in immune cells, suggesting a previously undescribed function in immunity. Here we demonstrate the feasibility of this approach for identifying proteins with previously unknown involvement in the human immune response.

MXS-Chaining: A Highly Efficient Cloning Platform for Imaging and Flow Cytometry Approaches in Mammalian Systems.

The continuous improvement of imaging technologies has driven the development of sophisticated reporters to monitor biological processes. Such constructs should ideally be assembled in a flexible enough way to allow for their optimization. Here we describe a highly reliable cloning method to efficiently assemble constructs for imaging or flow cytometry applications in mammalian cell culture systems. We bioinformatically identified a list of restriction enzymes whose sites are rarely found in human and mouse cDNA libraries. From the best candidates, we chose an enzyme combination (MluI, XhoI and SalI: MXS) that enables iterative chaining of individual building blocks. The ligation scar resulting from the compatible XhoI- and SalI-sticky ends can be translated and hence enables easy in-frame cloning of coding sequences. The robustness of the MXS-chaining approach was validated by assembling constructs up to 20 kb long and comprising up to 34 individual building blocks. By assessing the success rate of 400 ligation reactions, we determined cloning efficiency to be 90% on average. Large polycistronic constructs for single-cell imaging or flow cytometry applications were generated to demonstrate the versatility of the MXS-chaining approach. We devised several constructs that fluorescently label subcellular structures, an adapted version of FUCCI (fluorescent, ubiquitination-based cell cycle indicator) optimized to visualize cell cycle progression in mouse embryonic stem cells and an array of artificial promoters enabling dosage of doxycyline-inducible transgene expression. We made publicly available through the Addgene repository a comprehensive set of MXS-building blocks comprising custom vectors, a set of fluorescent proteins, constitutive promoters, polyadenylation signals, selection cassettes and tools for inducible gene expression. Finally, detailed guidelines describe how to chain together prebuilt MXS-building blocks and how to generate new customized MXS-building blocks.

Ad 2.0: a novel recombineering platform for high-throughput generation of tailored adenoviruses.

Recombinant adenoviruses containing a double-stranded DNA genome of 26–45 kb were broadly explored in basic virology, for vaccination purposes, for treatment of tumors based on oncolytic virotherapy, or simply as a tool for efficient gene transfer. However, the majority of recombinant adenoviral vectors (AdVs) is based on a small fraction of adenovirus types and their genetic modification. Recombineering techniques provide powerful tools for arbitrary engineering of recombinant DNA. Here, we adopted a seamless recombineering technology for high-throughput and arbitrary genetic engineering of recombinant adenoviral DNA molecules. Our cloning platform which also includes a novel recombination pipeline is based on bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs). It enables generation of novel recombinant adenoviruses from different sources and switching between commonly used early generation AdVs and the last generation high-capacity AdVs lacking all viral coding sequences making them attractive candidates for clinical use. In combination with a novel recombination pipeline allowing cloning of AdVs containing large and complex transgenes and the possibility to generate arbitrary chimeric capsid-modified adenoviruses, these techniques allow generation of tailored AdVs with distinct features. Our technologies will pave the way toward broader applications of AdVs in molecular medicine including gene therapy and vaccination studies.

Viral vectors expressing a single microRNA-based short-hairpin RNA result in potent gene silencing in vitro and in vivo

The characterization of RNA interference and the accompanying microRNAs (miRs), together with the exogenous expression of artificial miR-like elements, has led to the development of strategies for specific and potent gene silencing. In turn, this allows manipulation of gene expression levels for target validation purposes in cell culture or for the generation of animal models. In this study we determined the optimal strategy to achieve the most potent knockdown using miR-based viral vectors. We studied polycistronic miRs in a viral vector context and evaluated knockdown potency of multiple-miRs targeting the same seed sequence in parallel with miRs targeting different seed sequences, both for a reporter and endogenous mRNA targets. We demonstrate that potent knockdown can be obtained in vitro and in vivo using viral vectors that encode a single miR-based short-hairpin RNA and report a generic and effective cloning platform for artificial miR30-based short-hairpin RNAs to generate potent knockdown viral vectors.

An Innovative Cloning Platform Enables Large-Scale Production and Maturation of an Oxygen-Tolerant [NiFe]-Hydrogenase from Cupriavidus necator in Escherichia coli

Expression of multiple heterologous genes in a dedicated host is a prerequisite for approaches in synthetic biology, spanning from the production of recombinant multiprotein complexes to the transfer of tailor-made metabolic pathways. Such attempts are often exacerbated, due in most cases to a lack of proper directional, robust and readily accessible genetic tools. Here, we introduce an innovative system for cloning and expression of multiple genes in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). Using the novel methodology, genes are equipped with individual promoters and terminators and subsequently assembled. The resulting multiple gene cassettes may either be placed in one vector or alternatively distributed among a set of compatible plasmids. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed tool by production and maturation of the NAD+reducing soluble [NiFe]-hydrogenase (SH) from Cupriavidus necator H16 (formerly Ralstonia eutropha H16) in E. coli BL21Star™ (DE3). The SH (encoded in hoxFUYHI) was successfully matured by co-expression of a dedicated set of auxiliary genes, comprising seven hyp genes (hypC1D1E1A2B2F2X) along with hoxW, which encodes a specific endopeptidase. Deletion of genes involved in SH maturation reduced maturation efficiency substantially. Further addition of hoxN1, encoding a high-affinity nickel permease from C. necator, considerably increased maturation efficiency in E. coli. Carefully balanced growth conditions enabled hydrogenase production at high cell-densities, scoring mg·(Liter culture)−1 yields of purified functional SH. Specific activities of up to 7.2±1.15 U·mg−1 were obtained in cell-free extracts, which is in the range of the highest activities ever determined in C. necator extracts. The recombinant enzyme was isolated in equal purity and stability as previously achieved with the native form, yielding ultrapure preparations with anaerobic specific activities of up to 230 U·mg−1. Owing to the combinatorial power exhibited by the presented cloning platform, the system might represent an important step towards new routes in synthetic biology.

Single clone expression cloning and protein microarray platforms for novel extracellular receptor‐ligand identification

Here we describe the development of two complementary high‐throughput screening technologies consisting of single clone expression cloning and protein microarray platforms that permit genome‐wide screening of a protein of interest against thousands of interactions either displayed on a cell surface or on a microarray. The single clone expression cloning platform is fully automated and capable of efficient transfection, expression, and binding analysis of a bait protein to cells transfected with individual clones from the clone library. For low affinity interactions, we generated bait protein with an Fc fusion to increase the avidity. Our secreted protein microarray has over 1500 secreted or extracellular domain of single transmembrane human proteins represented to enable simultaneous systematic probing of a bait protein against proteins on the microarray. To enhance detection of low affinity interactions, we assembled bait Fc fusion proteins into multivalent complexes with protein A microbeads. As proof of concept, we evaluated well‐characterized extracellular receptor‐ligand interactions with diverse binding affinities on the single clone expression cloning and protein microarray platforms. Overall, we found that the interactions identified using both of our screening methodologies were highly specific and displayed minimal off‐target binding. Furthermore, we demonstrate the utility of both technologies for novel receptor‐ligand discovery.

A Highly Efficient Molecular Cloning Platform that Utilises a Small Bacterial Toxin Gene

Molecular cloning technologies that have emerged in recent years are more efficient and simpler to use than traditional strategies, but many have the disadvantages of requiring multiple steps and expensive proprietary enzymes. We have engineered cloning vectors containing variants of IbsC, a 19-residue toxin from Escherichia coli K-12. These toxic peptides offer selectivity to minimise the background, labour, and cost associated with conventional molecular cloning. As demonstrated with the cloning of reporter genes, this "detox cloning" system consistently produced over 95 % positive clones. Purification steps between digestion and ligation are not necessary, and the total time between digestion and plating of transformants can be as little as three hours. Thus, these IbsC-based cloning vectors are as reliable and amenable to high-throughput cloning as commercially available systems, and have the advantage of being more time-efficient and cost-effective.

The Cloning of the Gene for Hereditary Hemochromatosis

Featured Article: Feder JN, Gnirke A, Thomas W, Tsuchihashi Z, Ruddy DA, Basava A, et al. A novel MHC class I-like gene is mutated in patients with hereditary haemochromatosis. Nat Genet 1996;13: 399–408.4 The early 1990s represented the beginning of modern-day human genomics. Methodologies for genetic linkage analysis of human disease genes had become well established, and a new class of polymorphic microsatellite genetic markers had recently been discovered. The ability to manipulate human genomic DNA as yeast and bacterial artificial chromosomes, coupled with these new tools, provided an unprecedented way to construct detailed physical and genetic maps. Combining these maps with emerging technologies to identify expressed sequences, as well as the introduction of high-throughput capillary-based DNA sequencing, made gene finding more tractable than ever. Collectively, the application of these methods to the isolation of human disease genes was known as “positional cloning,” and the early 1990s saw the emergence of several biotechnology companies founded to capitalize on the confluence of these technologies. One of these companies was Mercator Genetics of Menlo Park, California. The company's plan was simple: establish a positional cloning platform and “rapidly” …

Polystyrene-coated micropallets for culture and separation of primary muscle cells

Despite identification of a large number of adult stem cell types, current primary cell isolation and identification techniques yield heterogeneous samples, making detailed biological studies challenging. To identify subsets of isolated cells, technologies capable of simultaneous cell culture and cloning are necessary. Micropallet arrays, a new cloning platform for adherent cell types, hold great potential. However, the microstructures composing these arrays are fabricated from an epoxy photoresist 1002F, a growth surface unsuitable for many cell types. Optimization of the microstructures' surface properties was conducted for the culture of satellite cells, primary muscle cells for which improved cell isolation techniques are desired. A variety of surface materials were screened for satellite cell adhesion and proliferation and compared to their optimal substrate, gelatin-coated Petri dishes. A 1-μm thick, polystyrene copolymer was applied to the microstructures by contact printing. A negatively charged copolymer of 5% acrylic acid in 95% styrene was found to be equivalent to the control Petri dishes for cell adhesion and proliferation. Cells cultured on control dishes and optimal copolymer-coated surfaces maintained an undifferentiated state and showed similar mRNA expression for two genes indicative of cell differentiation during a standard differentiation protocol. Experiments using additional contact-printed layers of extracellular matrix proteins collagen and gelatin showed no further improvements. This micropallet coating strategy is readily adaptable to optimize the array surface for other types of primary cells.