Multiple cloning site

A multiple cloning site (MCS), also called a polylinker, is a short segment of DNA which contains many (up to ~20) restriction sites—a standard feature of engineered plasmids.^[1] Restriction sites within an MCS are typically unique, occurring only once within a given plasmid. The purpose of an MCS in a plasmid is to allow a piece of DNA to be inserted into that region.^[2]

MCSs are found in a variety of vectors, including cloning vectors to increase the number of copies of target DNA, and in expression vectors to create a protein product.^[3] In expression vectors, the MCS is located downstream of a promoter to enable gene transcription.^[2] The MCS is often inserted within a non-essential gene, such as lacZα, facilitating blue-white screening for recombinant selection.^[4] By including recognition sequences for a variety of restriction enzymes, the MCS greatly enhances flexibility and efficiency in molecular cloning workflows, allowing for precise DNA insertion in synthetic biology, genetic engineering, and transgenic organism development.^[1]^[4]

^ ^a ^b Clark DP (2005). Molecular Biology. Academic Press. p. 611. ISBN 0-12-175551-7.
^ ^a ^b "Addgene: What is a Plasmid?". www.addgene.org. Retrieved 2018-04-29.
^ Carter M, Shieh JC (2015). Guide to Research Techniques in Neuroscience. Elsevier. pp. 219–237.
^ ^a ^b Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[:0-1] Clark DP (2005). Molecular Biology. Academic Press. p. 611. ISBN 0-12-175551-7.

[:1-2] "Addgene: What is a Plasmid?". www.addgene.org. Retrieved 2018-04-29.

[3] Carter M, Shieh JC (2015). Guide to Research Techniques in Neuroscience. Elsevier. pp. 219–237.

[:2-4] Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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