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John M. S. Bartlett.pdf - Bio-Nica.info

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Cloning Gene Family Members 485<br />

67<br />

Cloning Gene Family Members Using PCR<br />

with Degenerate Oligonucleotide Primers<br />

Gregory M. Preston<br />

1. Introduction<br />

1.1. What Are Gene Families?<br />

As more and more genes are cloned and sequenced, it is apparent that nearly all genes<br />

are related to other genes. Similar genes are grouped into families, such as the collagen<br />

and globin gene families. There are also gene superfamilies. Gene superfamilies are<br />

composed of genes that have areas of high homology and areas of high divergence.<br />

Examples of gene superfamilies include the oncogenes, homeotic genes, and myosin<br />

genes. In most cases, the different members of a gene family carry out related functions.<br />

A detailed protocol for the cloning by degenerate oligonucleotide polymerase chain<br />

reaction (PCR) of members of the Aquaporin family of membrane water channels<br />

(1,2) is discussed here.<br />

1.2. Advantages of PCR Cloning of Gene Family Members<br />

There are several considerations that must be taken into account when determining<br />

the advantages of using PCR to identify members of a gene family over conventional<br />

cloning methods of screening a library with a related cDNA, a degenerate primer, or<br />

an antibody. It is recommended that after a clone is obtained by PCR, one uses this<br />

template to isolate the corresponding cDNA from a library because mutations can often<br />

be introduced in PCR cloning. Alternatively, sequencing two or more PCR clones from<br />

independent reactions will also meet this objective. The following is a list of some of<br />

the advantages of cloning gene family members by PCR.<br />

1. Either one or two degenerate primers can be used in PCR cloning. When only one of the<br />

primers is degenerate, the other primer must be homologous to sequences in the phage or<br />

bacteriophage cloning vector (3,4) or to a synthetic linker sequence, as with RACE PCR.<br />

The advantage to using only one degenerate primer is that the resulting clones contain<br />

all of the genetic sequence downstream from the primer (be it 5′ or 3′ sequence). The<br />

disadvantage to this anchor PCR approach is that one of the primers is recognized by every<br />

gene in the starting material, resulting in single-strand amplification of all sequences.<br />

This is particularly notable when attempting to clone genes that are not abundant in the<br />

starting material. This disadvantage can often be ameliorated in part by using a nested<br />

From: Methods in Molecular <strong>Bio</strong>logy, Vol. 226: PCR Protocols, Second Edition<br />

Edited by: J. M. S. <strong>Bartlett</strong> and D. Stirling © Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ<br />

485

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