Skip to main content

YAC Protocols

  • Book
  • © 1996

Overview

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology (MIMB, volume 54)

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this book

eBook USD 74.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access

Licence this eBook for your library

Institutional subscriptions

Table of contents (29 protocols)

About this book

Yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs) have their origins in the molecular genetic analysis of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The construction of self-maintaining genetic elements from isolated frag­ ments of the yeast genome defined DNA sequences necessary for chro­ mosome function has provided telomeres, centromeres, and autonomous replicating sequences. In 1987 a reversal of the strategy put these short functional DNA sequences to work in cloning vectors, producing "yeast" chromosomes largely composed of foreign DNA. Initially the insert size of clones averaged several hundred kilobasepairs, a remarkable achieve­ ment. Rapid progress with cloning technology has since enabled the construction of YAC libraries with average insert sizes of around 1 Mb, with many clones exceeding that size, and YACs remain the largest capacity microbiological cloning system available. They effectively bridge the size gap between bacterial cloning (plasmids, cosmids, PI, and bacterial artificial chromosomes) and what could be considered mammalian cloning systems (somatic cell hybrids and irradiati- fusion gene transfer hybrids). YACs also brought with them a conceptual revolution in the man­ agement of clone libraries. The large carrying capacity of YACs, with subsequent reduction in the total number required, meant that it was conceivable to store clones individually rather than as pools that require constant re-plating. Each clone in the library has a unique address and, with successive screenings, information accumulates about individual clones.

Reviews

...timely...loaded with useful tips and information.-FEBS Letters

Editors and Affiliations

  • Paediatric Research Unit, United Medical and Dental Schools of Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospitals, London

    David Markie

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: YAC Protocols

  • Editors: David Markie

  • Series Title: Methods in Molecular Biology

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/0896033139

  • Publisher: Humana Totowa, NJ

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

  • Copyright Information: Humana Press 1996

  • eBook ISBN: 978-1-59259-541-9Published: 02 February 2008

  • Series ISSN: 1064-3745

  • Series E-ISSN: 1940-6029

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XVIII, 372

  • Topics: Human Genetics

Publish with us