Protocol describes how to construct a library of 35-45-kb fragments of genomic DNA in the double cos site cosmid vector, SuperCos-1. The steps include: Linearization and dephosphorylation of SuperCos-1 DNA; Partial digestion of high-molecular-weight DNA with MboI; Dephosphorylation of high-molecular-weight genomic DNA; Ligation of cosmid arms to genomic DNA: Packaging and plating recombinants; Isolation and analysis of recombinant cosmids: Validation of the library. - [Read Construction of Genomic DNA Libraries in Cosmid Vectors Protocol]
Pilot ligations and packaging reactions are used to establish the amounts of fragmented genomic DNA and bacteriophage {lambda} arms that yield the maximum number of recombinants. Additional ligation and packaging reactions may then be set up to yield a comprehensive library of genomic DNA. - [Read Ligation of Bacteriophage lambda Arms to Fragments of Foreign Genomic DNA Protocol]
Many replacement vectors (e.g., the EMBL series, {lambda}2001, and {lambda}DASH) contain a series of restriction sites, arranged in opposite orientations, at each end of the central stuffer fragment. Digestion of these vectors with two different restriction enzymes yields left and right arms, a stuffer fragment, and short segments of the polycloning sites. These can easily be removed from the arms by differential precipitation with isopropanol or spun-column chromatography. - [Read Preparation of Bacteriophage lambda DNA Cleaved with Two Restriction Enzymes Protocol]
The protocol gives general considerations for the design of targeting vectors for transgenic mice. The protocol shares tips in the design of knock-out and knock-in vectors and some of their strategies for producing homologously recombined embryonic stem cells.