Cre-Lox Recombination

The Cre-Lox system is very similar in action and in usage to the FLP-FRT recombination system. The Cre-Lox is a site-specific recombination technology that consists of Cre recombinase and a pair of short target sequences called LoxP [locus of X(cross)-over in P1] sites derived from Bacteriophage P1. Cre recombinase is a tyrosine recombinase enzyme that consists of 343 amino acids. A number of mutants with enhanced activities have been identified, e.g., codon-optimized Cre (iCre) with higher expression in mammalian cells. The LoxP site is a 34-base-pair long recognition sequence consisting of two 13-bp long palindromic repeat sequences separated by an 8-bp long asymmetric core spacer sequence. The canonical LoxP sequence is [5’-ATAACTTCGTATA-gcatacat-TATACGAAGTTAT-3’]. DNA sequences found between two LoxP sites are said to be "Floxed". Cre recombinase catalyse the site-specific recombination event between two DNA LoxP sites. This event results in three general outcomes based on the relative orientation of the LoxP sites. DNA found between two LoxP sites oriented in the same direction will be excised as a circular loop of DNA. The intervening DNA between two LoxP sites that are opposingly orientated will be reversed. A translocation event will be occured at the loxP sites if the sites are on separate DNA molecules.

RGBiotech offers a series of plasmids that can be used in Cre-Lox based recombination. We also provide custom construction services to meet the different demands of our customers.

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