An efficient and site-specific gene trimming method.

Trimming a DNA strand into a precisely determined fragment can be carried out efficiently by an improved method involving a site-specific trim-primer and a single-stranded DNA template which is generated from a multifunctional vector, pTZ18R, and linearized by using an Eco RI-pTZ18R splinter. A complementary DNA strand is synthesized by DNA polymerase I (Klenow), and the 3'-end of the template upstream from the annealed primer is trimmed by subsequent T4 DNA polymerase reaction. An ATG translation initiator codon or a termination codon can be incorporated into the trim-primer, providing versatility to this single-stranded DNA-initiated gene trimming method that can be applied to subcloning and expression of any DNA fragment with known terminal sequences.