cDNA Cloning

GBU performs Gateway cloning of cDNAs into a wide range of expression vectors.

Gateway® Cloning Technology (, originally Invitrogen) is a high‑throughput, two‑step recombination‑based cloning system. It uses att site–mediated recombination rather than restriction digestion and ligation, enabling efficient transfer of DNA fragments while preserving both orientation and reading frame.

Gateway Cloning to Your Destination Vector of Choice

We can clone inserts from:

  • our , and
  • any Gateway‑compatible PCR products or plasmids 

into a broad set of destination vectors.

Our Gateway-compatible vector collection includes:

  • vertebrate expression vectors
  • bacterial expression vectors
  • lentiviral vectors
  • AAV vectors
  • different promoters and tags

Please ask for more details about the vectors. If your preferred destination vector is not listed, we can consider adding it to our collection.

Need Gateway Compatibility? We Can Generate It.

If your template is not yet Gateway‑compatible, we can convert it into a Gateway‑compatible PCR product and complete the cloning using a two‑step Gateway workflow. This approach is especially useful for genes originating from our , which are not Gateway‑compatible by default.

Controls

Most of our vectors are not generated by us, and therefore we do not provide empty vectors due to MTA restrictions. Instead, the following control constructs can be cloned into any of our destination vectors:

  • EmGFP with stop — standard fluorescent control with termination codon
  • EmGFP without stop — suitable for C‑terminal tags
  • mCherry with stop — red fluorescent control with termination codon
  • mCherry without stop — compatible with C‑terminal fusions
  • lacZ with stop — β‑galactosidase control with termination codon
  • lacZ without stop — for C‑terminal tag applications
  • Non-coding insert — ccdB‑free vectors that can be grown in DH5α and Stbl3 cells

Service Includes

  • A DNA miniprep of each clone
  • Bacterial glycerol stocks, which can be collected from GBU as needed

Downstream Services

We collaborate with other units in the to provide downstream services, including:

  • virus production (lentiviral, retroviral, AAV)
  • generation of overexpression cell lines

Together, we can help plan and execute the complete workflow from plasmid to virus and cell‑line expression.

You can contact the individual cores or reach the entire platform at: . 
Acknowledging GBU in Publications

If you use a cloned vector from the GBU in your publication, please acknowledge us in the following way:

Clon­ing:

“Constructs were generated by the Genome Biology Unit supported by HiLIFE, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, and Biocenter Finland"

OR­Feome clones:

“Name of the clone (ORFeome Library; Genome Biology Unit supported by HiLIFE, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, and Biocenter Finland)"

MGC clones:

“Name of the clone (MGC Library; Genome Biology Unit supported by HiLIFE, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, and Biocenter Finland)"

Please also cite the creators of the vector backbone used in your construct.