Figure 1.

Generation of DNA minivectors. To generate minivectors, any target sequence or expression cassette is cloned between the attB and attP sites located in direct orientation in a minivector-producing parent plasmid. λ integrase mediates the intramolecular recombination of the attB and attP sites, producing two catenated rings: the minivector containing the target sequence or expression cassette, and a miniplasmid containing all the other undesired sequences. The catenanes are unlinked by topoisomerase IV. λ Int: lambda integrase; Topo IV: topoisomerase IV; bla: β lactamase (encoding ampicillin resistance); ori: bacterial origin of replication; attP: phage attachment site; attB: bacterial attachment site; attL: hybrid attachment site to the "left" of the recombined sequence; attR: hybrid attachment site to the "right" of the recombined sequence.