Biofoundry-assisted Golden Gate cloning with AssemblyTron

Abstract

Golden Gate assembly is a requisite method in synthetic biology that facilitates critical conventions such as genetic part abstraction and rapid prototyping. However, compared to robotic implementation, manual Golden Gate implementation is cumbersome, error-prone, and inconsistent for complex assembly designs. AssemblyTron is an open-source python package that provides an affordable automation solution using open-source Opentrons OT-2 lab robots. Automating Golden Gate assembly with AssemblyTron can reduce failure-rate, resource consumption, and training requirements for building complex DNA constructs, as well as indexed and combinatorial libraries. Here, we dissect a panel of upgrades to AssemblyTrons Golden Gate assembly capabilities, which include Golden Gate assembly into modular cloning part vectors, error-prone PCR combinatorial mutant library assembly, and modular cloning indexed plasmid library assembly. These upgrades enable a broad pool of users with varying levels of experience to readily implement advanced Golden Gate applications using low-cost, open-source lab robotics.