title: Using archaeal histones for precise DNA fragmentation.
abstract: The fragmentation of DNA is a useful procedure for many molecular biology procedures. However, most methods used to fragment DNA are poorly controllable, and cannot be used to create small fragments. We describe a method to generate random DNA fragments of a predictable size to be cloned in expression vectors for the construction of display libraries. The DNA is allowed to form complexes with archaeal histones from Methanothermus fervidus (HMf) and the HMf/DNA core complex is naturally protected from nuclease DNaseI activity, giving rise to DNA fragments of approximately 60 bp and multiples thereof. We found that by varying the wt/wt ratio between DNA and HMf, the concentration of DNA and the incubation time with DNaseI, DNA fragments of desired size can be obtained. This approach should be applicable to the efficient fragmentation of DNA for the construction of phage display polypeptide libraries, as well as any other molecular biology procedures in which small DNA fragments of defined size are required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Trieste, via Giorgieri 7, I-34127 Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Azzoni
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sblattero
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Licciulli
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marzari
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Edomi
mesh_terms: D019843:Archaeal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I / Q000737:chemistry; D006657:Histones / Q000737:chemistry*; D017013:Methanobacteriaceae / Q000378:metabolism*; D019151:Peptide Library; D010957:Plasmids
chemical_list: D019843:Archaeal Proteins; D006657:Histones; D019151:Peptide Library; D004247:DNA; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I