Plasmid vectors for positive selection of DNA inserts controlled by the lambda pL promoter, repressor and antitermination function.

Hybrid plasmids consisting of pBR322 or pOP203-3 and the EcoRI-D fragment of lambda DNA kill their bacterial host upon expression of a lambda gene (probably the kil function) located either between or across the SalI sites. The plasmids from surviving hosts are acquired deletions that remove the lambda kil gene or insertions that block the transcription of the kil gene. Some plasmids probably carry point mutations. Based on these findings, we constructed two vector plasmids, pKL1 and pHA10, which can be used for a direct positive selection of cloned fragments. These plasmids are particularly useful for the cloning and selection of N-unresponsive termination signals using BamHI and its isoschizomers. The DNA fragments cloned into these plasmids are under control of the strong pL promoter, which can be regulated by the lambda repressor, and the antitermination activity of the N gene product.