Zero Blunt™ PCR Cloning Kit, without competent cells
Zero Blunt™ PCR Cloning Kit, without competent cells
Invitrogen™

Zero Blunt™ PCR Cloning Kit, without competent cells

The Zero Blunt™ PCR Cloning Kit offers an easy method for high-efficiency (>80%) cloning of blunt-end PCR products amplified withRead more
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Catalog NumberQuantity
K27502020 Reactions
K27504040 Reactions
Catalog number K275020
Price (USD)
409.00
Each
Add to cart
Quantity:
20 Reactions
Price (USD)
409.00
Each
Add to cart
The Zero Blunt™ PCR Cloning Kit offers an easy method for high-efficiency (>80%) cloning of blunt-end PCR products amplified with proof-reading, thermostable DNA polymerases. The Zero Blunt™ PCR Cloning Kit uses the multipurpose cloning vector pCR™-Blunt and ExpressLink™ T4 DNA Ligase to generate a ligation product in a five-minute, room-temperature ligation step.

Features of the Zero Blunt™ Cloning™ Kit with pCR™-Blunt vector:
• Fast & convenient—5-minute, room-temperature ligation
• Efficient—ccdB gene for positive selection results in >80% clones with correct insert
• Flexible—choice of kanamycin or Zeocin™ resistance for flexible antibiotic selection

The pCR™-Blunt vector provides:
• EcoR I sites flanking the PCR product insertion site for excision of inserts
• T7 promoter/primer site for in vitro RNA transcription and sequencing
• M13 forward and reverse primer sites for sequencing or PCR screening

How Zero Blunt™ PCR Cloning Works
The Zero Blunt™ PCR Cloning Kit is designed to clone blunt PCR fragments (or any blunt DNA fragment) with a low background of non-recombinants. The pCR™-Blunt vector contains the lethal E. coliccdB gene fused to the C-terminus of LacZα (Bernard et al., 1994). Ligation of a blunt PCR fragment disrupts expression of the lacZα-ccdB gene fusion permitting growth of only positive recombinants upon transformation. Cells that contain non-recombinant vector are killed when the transformation mixture is plated.

Kit Configurations
The Zero Blunt™ PCR Cloning Kit is offered in a variety of configurations: with One Shot™ TOPO10 Chemically Competent E. coli (K2700-20 and K2700-40) and without competent cells (K2750-20 and K2750-40) in 20- and 40- reaction kit sizes.
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
Specifications
Bacterial or Yeast StrainNot Included
Cloning MethodBlunt PCR
FormatKit
Product LineTOPO™, Zero Blunt™
Product TypePCR Cloning Kit
PromoterT7
Quantity20 Reactions
VectorBlunt DNA Cloning Vectors
Unit SizeEach
Contents & Storage
Zero Blunt™ PCR cloning kits contain linearized pCR™-Blunt vector, ExpressLink™ T4 DNA ligase , 5X ExpressLink™ T4 DNA ligase buffer, control template, dNTPs, sterile water, and M13 forward and reverse primers.

Store all components at -20°C. All reagents are guaranteed stable for 6 months when properly stored.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What is the best molar ratio of PCR product:vector to use for TOPO TA cloning? Is there an equation to calculate the quantity to use?

We suggest starting with a molar ratio of 1:1 (insert:vector), with a range of 0.5:1 to 2:1. The quantity used in a TOPO cloning reaction is typically 5-10 ng of a 2 kb PCR product.

Equation:

length of insert (bp)/length of vector (bp) x ng of vector = ng of insert needed for 1:1 (insert:vector ratio)

What is the best ratio of insert:vector to use for cloning? Is there an equation to calculate this?

The optimal ratio is 1:1 insert to vector. Optimization can be done using a ratio of 0.5-2 molecules of insert for every molecule of the vector.

Equation:

length of insert (bp)/length of vector (bp) x ng of vector = ng of insert needed for 1:1 insert:vector ratio

I'm seeing a lot of vector-only colonies when I try to perform a negative control reaction using vector only (no insert) for a TOPO reaction. Is my TOPO vector re-ligating?

Using the vector only for transformation is not a recommended negative control. The process of TOPO-adaptation is not a 100% process, therefore, there will be “vector only” present in your mix, and colonies will be obtained.

I'm trying to clone in my phosphorylated PCR product into a TOPO vector, and I'm getting no colonies. However, when I clone the same product into a TA vector, everything works perfectly. Why is this?

Phosphorylated products can be TA cloned but not TOPO cloned. This is because the necessary phosphate group is contained within the topoisomerase-DNA intermediate complex of the vector. TOPO vectors have a 3' phosphate to which topoisomerase is covalently bound and a 5' phosphate. Non-TOPO linear vectors (TA and Blunt) have a 3' OH and a 5' phosphate. Phosphorylated products should be phosphatased (CIP) before TOPO cloning.

I'm able to get a lot of colonies, however, none contain my insert of interest. What should I do?

You may be cloning in an artifact. TA and TOPO Cloning are very efficient for small fragments (< 100 bp) present in certain PCR reactions. Gel-purify your PCR product using either a silica-based DNA purification system or electroelution. Be sure that all solutions are free of nucleases (avoid communal ethidium bromide baths, for example.)

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