image: Provides an overview of emerging methods based on homologous assembly, most of which have been developed on platforms like Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These methods enable the design and construction of megabase-sized chromosomes, facilitating large-scale genome synthesis.
Credit: Li J, Cheng L, Ma Y, Cai Y, Dai J.
Large-scale DNA assembly stands as a foundational pillar in synthetic biology, empowering genomic engineering capabilities from targeted modifications to de novo genome synthesis. This technique facilitates modifications ranging from viral genomes consisting of thousands of bases to yeast genomes encompassing several megabases. The ability to assemble large DNA fragments sets the upper limit for artificial genome synthesis, thereby influencing the progress of artificial life research. As a result, the assembly of large DNA fragments holds significant research importance and practical value.
Notably, a research team from the Dai lab at the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, recently published a commentary titled " Recent technology advancements in large‐scale DNA assembly" in Quantitative Biology. The work provides a comparative evaluation of the characteristics of various large DNA fragment assembly strategies used in different host cells, focusing on their limitations, time requirements, and the respective advantages and disadvantages of each approach. Furthermore, it highlights future development directions and potential application scenarios for large DNA fragment assembly.
Journal
Quantitative Biology
DOI
Method of Research
Experimental study
Subject of Research
Not applicable
Article Title
Recent technology advancements in large-scale DNA assembly
Article Publication Date
17-Dec-2024