VGEC: Student Notes

RESTRICTION ENZYME MAPPING OF THE λ

(lambda) PHAGE GENOME
This is a paper exercise where you will use images of restriction enzyme digestion data to construct a physical map of
the phage lambda genome.

INTRODUCTION
Restriction endonucleases are powerful tools for the molecular analysis of complex genomes such as those of
mammals. These enzymes can be isolated from a wide variety of micro-organisms and have the property of cutting both
strands of double-stranded DNA only at a specific nucleotide sequence, usually 4-6 base pairs long. A considerable
number of different restriction endonucleases are now available, each one capable of cleaving DNA at a different
specific sequence.

This exercise will show how these enzymes can be used to cleave λ DNA, a linear DNA molecule 48500 bp long, into
various numbers of discrete fragments depending on the enzyme used. By using combinations of different restriction
endonucleases, these fragments can be ordered into a physical map of cutting sites along λ DNA.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

AGAROSE GEL ELECTROPHORESIS

The success of making maps of DNA using restriction endonucleases depends of course on having a method for
resolving DNA fragments of different sizes. For example, if an enzyme E cuts λ DNA at two sites as below;

E E
1 2 3

we then need to be able to resolve the three fragments produced (1, 2, 3) and to measure their sizes. This is most
readily done by agarose gel electrophoresis ( GENIE video of gel eletrophoresis). After digestion with the restriction
enzyme, the DNA sample is loaded into a slot in a slab of agarose gel containing ethidium bromide. An electric current
is passed through the gel and the DNA moves through the gel, small fragments moving most rapidly and larger
fragments migrating more slowly. After electrophoresis, DNA bands can be detected under UV light by the fluorescence
of ethidium bromide bound to the DNA. By running a mixture of DNA fragments of known size alongside an unknown
sample, a fragment size calibration curve can be constructed and the sizes of other fragments estimated with
reasonable accuracy.
OUTLINE OF THE EXERCISE
You are provided with photographs of gels that have been run. The exercise is best if divided into a number of stages:

Stage 1: Examine the two photographs provided. One is of single and double digestions of lambda DNA carried out
with the enzymes EcoRI, KpnI, XbaI and XhoI. The second photograph contains data with respect to a series of partial
digestions.
You need to determine the sizes of the fragments generated by restriction enzyme digestion, and begin to work out the
restriction map of phage lambda. You should also begin to think about the strategy for assembling the map.
Stage 2: The maps should now be completed as far as possible using the data from the first photograph. At this stage
there will be uncertainties in the map. Some of these uncertainties can be resolved using deletion mutants of lambda.
The second photograph depicting digests of wild-type λ DNA and two different deletion mutants of λ DNA will help you
to resolve the restriction map.

PROCEDURE
1. You will be provided with two sheets of photographs of electrophoresis gels. The first sheet is labelled ‗―Complete
Digests‖ — phage λ restriction mapping experiment‘ and contains two similar gel images side-by-side with a legend to
the left. The second sheet is labelled ‗―Partials & Deletions‖ — phage λ restriction mapping experiment‘ and
contains two dissimilar gel images with the legend running down the centre of the sheet between the gels.

2. Start with the “Complete Digests” sheet. The DNA samples electrophoresed on the two gels are identical — only
the electrophoresis conditions differ. The left gel has been run in a way that allows you to determine the sizes of the
small DNA fragments. The right gel is better suited to the determination of the sizes of larger DNA fragments. Neither
gel is ideal for the determination of the sizes of the very largest DNA fragments.

3. You MUST deal with each gel separately when determining the sizes of the DNA fragments and plot separate
standard curves for each. Measure the distance migrated by each marker DNA fragment. For each marker fragment,
plot its size against the distance that it has migrated on semi-logarithmic graph paper. Connect the points with a smooth
curve that actually passes through each of the points. The curve is not necessarily a parabola or a quadratic curve — it
may be a strange shape but it MUST pass through all of the points. If you find the task impossible, it‘s probable that you
have plotted one or more points in the wrong position.

The marker DNA in track 1 is λ DNA digested with the restriction enzyme HindIII (λ x HindIII) which produces a set of
fragments of which only the largest 7 are normally easily visible:

23.1 kb
9.4 kb
6.6 kb
4.4 kb
2.3 kb
2.0 kb
0.56 kb

Track 2 contains undigested λ DNA (48.5 kb) which, although more than double the size of the largest size marker
fragment in lane 1, migrates only marginally less slowly.

4. Once you have plotted the standard curve for the DNA marker fragments, measure the mobilities of fragments in the
experimental λ DNA digests (tracks 3–12) and use the standard curve to calculate their sizes. You will need to use the
data from both gels to obtain accurate sizes for the fragments. Keep in mind that each fragment has only one size
whatever the electrophoresis conditions. It will be difficult to determine the sizes of the very largest fragments with any
accuracy. It is best to add
together the sizes of all but the largest fragment and then subtract the sum from 48.5 kb to obtain the largest fragment
size.

5. Once you have made an attempt to do this, discuss your results with your tutor. You will then be supplied with a list
of correct fragment sizes. These correct sizes have been rounded to the nearest 100 bp (0.1 kb) and should be used for
the construction of the map.

6. Deduce the possible arrangement of cleavage sites in λ DNA. The following approach is suggested:-

(a) are there?

What are the 3 possible arrangements of KpnI sites within the map?
Ho It should be evident from a comparison of tracks 9 and 10 that the KpnI sites in λ DNA are contained
w within a single EcoRI digest fragment. Only one of the EcoRI fragments seen in track 9 is affected by
ma digestion with KpnI in track 10.
ny The left-hand gel of the “Partials & Deletions” photograph depicts a series digests of λ DNA that
λ are complete with respect to digestion with EcoRI, but are partial with respect to KpnI (tracks 2–10). The
DN DNA in track 2 of the partial-digest gel is completely digested with both enzymes and corresponds to
A track 10 on the complete-digest gels.
fra From the partial and complete digests of (λ x EcoRI) with KpnI, deduce the KpnI cleavage pattern
gm within the largest EcoRI fragment. There is no need to plot a standard curve — you will be provided with
ent sizes of the fragments that are important for working out the map. This should give you the full KpnI map
s plus the map position of the largest EcoRI fragment.
are
pro
du (b)
ce How many fragments are produced by XhoI?
d How many XhoI sites are there?
by From the KpnI + XhoI double digest, fit the XhoI site(s) on to the KpnI map.
Kp
nI?
(c)
Do How many XbaI cleavage sites are there?
the Fit the XbaI site(s) on to the KpnI map.
ir
co
mb (d)
ine How many EcoRI fragments are there? (CAUTION- two of the fragments run close together giving a
d single more-intense band under some electrophoresis conditions)
len How many EcoRI sites are there?
gth From double digests with EcoRI and another enzyme, try to locate as many EcoRI sites as possible on
s the KpnI, XhoI, XbaI restriction map.
eq
ual
tha (e) Draw the map to scale to the extent that you can and describe any remaining uncertainties.
t of
λ
DN
A? MAPPING THE DELETION MUTANT λ DNAs
Ho To resolve the remaining uncertainties it is necessary to consider mapping data with respect to two
w naturally-occurring mutants of λ — λ b519 and λ b538 each carry a different single internal deletion. The
ma right hand panel of the second photograph depicts digestions of wild-type λ, λ b519 and λ b538 DNAs
ny each with EcoRI and EcoRI + KpnI (tracks 12-22). Analyse the data and deduce the size and
Kp approximate position of each deletion. Comparison of the EcoRI single digests of each of the DNAs
nI (tracks 13, 15 and 17) is particularly helpful in resolving any uncertainties with respect to the order of the
cle EcoRI fragments.
av
ag
e
sit
es
QUESTIONS
1. Using the DNA fragment sizes for wild type λ that you were provided with, describe how the restriction map is
deduced and draw the map to scale, indicating the location of the cut sites for each of the restriction enzymes.
2. Describe the remaining uncertainties in the map derived using the complete-digest data provided for wild-type λ.
3. Explain how the deletion data resolve the uncertainties.
4. What can you say about the role of the DNA in the deleted regions of the genomes of the two λ deletion mutants?
5. State any remaining uncertainties and devise an experiment to resolve them.