PUC19

Definition

pUC19 is a small, circular plasmid vector commonly used in cloning and genetic engineering. It contains an origin of replication, multiple cloning sites, and a gene for ampicillin resistance.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. pUC19 has a high copy number, which means it can produce many copies of itself within a bacterial cell.
2. It contains the lacZ gene that allows for blue/white screening to identify recombinant colonies.
3. The multiple cloning site (MCS) within pUC19 is located within the lacZ gene.
4. Ampicillin resistance in pUC19 allows for selection of bacteria that have taken up the plasmid.
5. pUC19 is derived from pBR322 but lacks certain restriction sites to simplify the cloning process.

Review Questions

Related terms

Plasmid:

A small, circular piece of DNA that replicates independently of chromosomal DNA in bacteria.

Multiple Cloning Site (MCS): A region in a plasmid containing multiple unique restriction enzyme sites for inserting foreign DNA.

Blue/White Screening: A technique used to distinguish between recombinant and non-recombinant bacterial colonies based on color change.