PCR protocol

• PCR reaction

  Protocol for 50µl reaction - adjust amounts if necessary, for a 20µl reaction use the same volumes of primer and dNTP-mix, but adjust the volume of water and 10x buffer, for a 100µl reaction use twice the volume of everything. This protocol is for with 10x buffer with added MgCl2, if this is not included add it to a concentration of 1.5 mM or other concentration found to be optimal.

In a 200µl PCR tube take 5µl 10X PCR buffer (from enzyme kit). Add 1µl dNTP-mix. Add 1µl of 10 pmoles/µl solution of Forward primer. Add 1µl of 10 pmoles/µl solution of Reverse primer. Add 1µl template DNA, or a tiny bit of colony on agar-plate picked with a tooth-pick. Add 40.5µl (or 41.5µl if using a colony pick) dH2O. Add 0.5µl Taq DNA polymerase (5U/µl). Mix gently by pipetting. Place in PCR machine, and close hot-lid (if the machine does not have a hot-lid add a couple of drops of mineral oil on top of reaction to prevent evaporation. Perform PCR with a suitable program for the template, primers, and thermal cycler:

• 5 minutes at 95°C (especially important if using colony pick or unopened cells af any form)
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• 30 times:
• 30 seconds at 95°C (depending on PCR machine)
• 30 seconds at 50°C (adjust according to annealing temperatures of primers)
• 30 seconds at 72°C (long PCR products (>1kb) require longer)
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• 6 minutes at 72°C

Agarose gel for analysis of PCR products

Protocol for 60 ml gel - adjust amounts if necessary.

In a 250ml conical bottle take 0.72g of agarose. Add 60 ml of water. Heat to boiling in microvawe owen. Cool down to 60�C. Add 2µl 10 mg/ml ethidium bromide. Pour gel in tray with tape at ends and 8 tooth comb inset. Allow to set. Take 10µl of the PCR reaction and place on a piece of Saran wrap. Add 2µl 6X loading buffer. Load on gel along with molecular weight marker. Run at 100V until dye front has reached approximately 3/4 down the gel. Inspect under UV.

Solutions dNTP-mix for PCR 10µl 100mM dATP, 10µl 100mM dCTP, 10µl 100mM dGTP, 10µl 100mM dTTP, 60µl DEPC-treated dH2O 6X loading buffer for agarose gel 25µl 1% (w/v) bromo-phenol blue, 25µl 1% (w/v) xylene-cyanol FF, 30µl 100% glycerol, 20µl dH2O