Construction of a T-Vector Using an Esterase Reporter for Direct Cloning of PCR Products

We constructed an efficient T-vector, pTQEST216T that employed an engineered esterase as an indicator for direct cloning of PCR products. After ligation of the XcmI-digested vector with PCR products, this cloning system could easily discriminate positive clones owing to insertional inactivation of the esterase reporter. Additionally, PCR products were efficiently cloned into this vector without the gel purification steps, owing to the well-designed multi-cloning site that was in-frame fused at the circularly permutated gap of the reporter.