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Molecular Cloning Services

Custom DNA Constructs, Viral & Non-Viral Vectors

100% sequence-accurate custom cloning for any vector type — plasmid, AAV, lentivirus, adenovirus or other backbones. From a simple subclone to a complex multi-fragment assembly or full viral packaging, BrainVTA delivers ready-to-use constructs faster and more cost-effectively than in-house cloning.

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Send your gene, sequence or map — a vector scientist replies within one business day.

  • 100% sequence-verified
  • Plasmid or packaged virus
  • CoA + sequence files
Request a Quote
Online Inquiry
AT A GLANCE
  • Sequence accuracy 100% (Sanger)
  • Turnaround From 5 days
  • Subcloning, <1 kb $160
  • Gene synthesis $0.17 / bp
  • Backbones 200+ / your own
  • Packaging AAV · LV · AdV

Full-Spectrum Molecular Cloning

BrainVTA offers a complete range of molecular cloning services to build custom DNA constructs for any downstream application. Provide your project information — gene name, species or sequence — and we deliver ready-to-use plasmid or viral particles.

  • 100% Sequence Accuracy

    Verified by Sanger sequencing.

  • Fast Turnaround

    From 5 business days for standard subcloning.

  • Flexible Options

    Viral or non-viral, any promoter, tag or reporter.

  • Cost-Effective

    Save reagents, labour and frustration vs DIY cloning.

Key Advantages

  • Validated Backbones

    Higher efficiency, proven results.

  • Ready-to-Use Templates

    Fast modular swapping.

  • Flexible Subcloning

    Adapt to any vector or fragment.

  • One-Stop Service

    From clone to protein or viral particles.

Core Cloning Services

We cover common and advanced cloning needs, including but not limited to:

SERVICE DESCRIPTION
Standard subcloning Transfer your insert into any plasmid vector.
Site-directed mutagenesis Point mutation, deletion or insertion — single or multiple sites.
Gene synthesis Synthetic genes with codon optimization, any length or sequence.
Multi-fragment assembly Seamless assembly of up to 10 fragments and more (Gibson / In-Fusion).
shRNA / siRNA vectors U6/H1 or miR30-based shRNA expression vectors (≥70% knockdown guaranteed).
CRISPR-Cas9 vectors gRNA expression vectors for knockout / knock-in.
Viral vector cloning Cloning into AAV, lentivirus (LV) or adenovirus (AdV) transfer plasmids.
Non-viral vector cloning Transient transfection, piggyBac / Sleeping Beauty transposons, bacterial expression.
Custom library construction gRNA libraries, ORF libraries, mutagenesis libraries.

Custom Vector Subcloning

Already have a unique or commercially restricted backbone? We can subclone into your own vector.

Start Your Project

Pricing & Turnaround

Standard subcloning and gene synthesis pricing is listed below. Final pricing may vary with vector complexity, repetitive sequences, GC content and other structural features.

Insert size Timeline Price (USD)
<1kb 1-2 weeks $160.00
1-2 kb 1-2 weeks $183.00
2-3 kb 1-2 weeks $283.00
3-4 kb 1-2 weeks $416.00
>4kb Inquire Inquire

Add-On Service

If gene synthesis is needed, additional price and turnaround time for vector construction services:

Add-on service Timeline Price (USD)
Gene Synthesis 1-2 weeks $0.17 / bp

Workflow- Four Core Steps

  • 1
    Choose a Vector Backbone

    Select a viral or non-viral vector for your application.

  • 2
    Choose a Promoter

    Tissue-specific, constitutive or inducible expression.

  • 3
    Add the Gene of Interest, Tags, Reporters & Linkers

    Select a viral or non-viral vector for your application.

  • 4
    Clone → Sequence → Deliver

    Ready-to-use plasmid delivery or viral packaging.

Expand All

Step 1 — Choosing a Vector Backbone

Viral Vector Comparison

Property AAV LV Adenovirus
Genome ssDNA ssRNA (+) dsDNA
Envelope Naked Enveloped Naked
Type Non-integrating Integrating Non-integrating
Infected Cells Dividing & non‑dividing Dividing & non‑dividing Dividing & non‑dividing
Packaging Capacity ≤4.9 kb ≤6kb ≤7.5kb
Expression Duration Long‑lasting
(non‑integrating but stable)
Long‑lasting
(integrated)
Transient
(high level)
Immunogenicity Very Low Low High
Transduction Efficiency Moderate Moderate High
Biosafety BSL-1 BSL-2 BSL-2

Common Non-viral Vectors

Vector type Application Capacity limit
pCDNA3.1(+) Mammalian transient expression No strict limit (>10 kb possible)
pEGFP-N1/C1 Fusion protein + GFP tracking No strict limit
pUC19 / pBR322 Routine subcloning, amplification No strict limit
pET series Protein expression in E. coli No strict limit
piggyBac / Sleeping Beauty Transposon mediated stable integration Large fragments possible

We also support your own backbone (map and resistance info required), or choose from our library of >200 commonly used vectors.

Step 2 — Choose a Promoter

Constitutive / Ubiquitous Promoters

  • Mammalian

    CMV, CAG, EF1α, PGK, UBC

  • Prokaryotic

    T7, lac, araBAD

  • Yeast

    ADH1, GAL1

Tissue-Specific Promoters

  • Common AAV Serotypes
    • Cross BBB

      AAV-PHP.eB, AAV-B10

    • Brain

      AAV1, AAV2, AAV5, AAV8, AAV9

    • PNS

      AAV-PHP.S, AAV9, AAV-MaCPNS1/2

    • Retrograde Labeling

      AAV2/retro, AAV11

    • Anterograde Trans-Synaptic

      AAV-PHP.S, AAV9, AAV-MaCPNS1/2

    Promoters
    • hSyn
    • ChAT
    • CaMKIIα
    • mDlx
    • mecp2
    • PV
    • c-fos
    • SST
    • TH
    • VGAT
    • GFAP
    • VGLUT2
    • GfaABC1D
    • DBH
  • Common AAV Serotypes
    • Cross BBB

      AAV-PHP.eB, AAV-B10

    • Brain

      AAV1, AAV2, AAV5, AAV8, AAV9

    • PNS

      AAV-PHP.S, AAV9, AAV-MaCPNS1/2

    • Retrograde Labeling

      AAV2/retro, AAV11

    • Anterograde Trans-Synaptic

      AAV-PHP.S, AAV9, AAV-MaCPNS1/2

    Promoters
    • hSyn
    • ChAT
    • CaMKIIα
    • mDlx
    • mecp2
    • PV
    • c-fos
    • SST
    • TH
    • VGAT
    • GFAP
    • VGLUT2
    • GfaABC1D
    • DBH
  • Common AAV Serotypes
    • Cross BBB

      AAV-PHP.eB, AAV-B10

    • Brain

      AAV1, AAV2, AAV5, AAV8, AAV9

    • PNS

      AAV-PHP.S, AAV9, AAV-MaCPNS1/2

    • Retrograde Labeling

      AAV2/retro, AAV11

    • Anterograde Trans-Synaptic

      AAV-PHP.S, AAV9, AAV-MaCPNS1/2

    Promoters
    • hSyn
    • ChAT
    • CaMKIIα
    • mDlx
    • mecp2
    • PV
    • c-fos
    • SST
    • TH
    • VGAT
    • GFAP
    • VGLUT2
    • GfaABC1D
    • DBH
  • Common AAV Serotypes
    • Cross BBB

      AAV-PHP.eB, AAV-B10

    • Brain

      AAV1, AAV2, AAV5, AAV8, AAV9

    • PNS

      AAV-PHP.S, AAV9, AAV-MaCPNS1/2

    • Retrograde Labeling

      AAV2/retro, AAV11

    • Anterograde Trans-Synaptic

      AAV-PHP.S, AAV9, AAV-MaCPNS1/2

    Promoters
    • hSyn
    • ChAT
    • CaMKIIα
    • mDlx
    • mecp2
    • PV
    • c-fos
    • SST
    • TH
    • VGAT
    • GFAP
    • VGLUT2
    • GfaABC1D
    • DBH
  • Common AAV Serotypes
    • Cross BBB

      AAV-PHP.eB, AAV-B10

    • Brain

      AAV1, AAV2, AAV5, AAV8, AAV9

    • PNS

      AAV-PHP.S, AAV9, AAV-MaCPNS1/2

    • Retrograde Labeling

      AAV2/retro, AAV11

    • Anterograde Trans-Synaptic

      AAV-PHP.S, AAV9, AAV-MaCPNS1/2

    Promoters
    • hSyn
    • ChAT
    • CaMKIIα
    • mDlx
    • mecp2
    • PV
    • c-fos
    • SST
    • TH
    • VGAT
    • GFAP
    • VGLUT2
    • GfaABC1D
    • DBH
  • Common AAV Serotypes
    • Cross BBB

      AAV-PHP.eB, AAV-B10

    • Brain

      AAV1, AAV2, AAV5, AAV8, AAV9

    • PNS

      AAV-PHP.S, AAV9, AAV-MaCPNS1/2

    • Retrograde Labeling

      AAV2/retro, AAV11

    • Anterograde Trans-Synaptic

      AAV-PHP.S, AAV9, AAV-MaCPNS1/2

    Promoters
    • hSyn
    • ChAT
    • CaMKIIα
    • mDlx
    • mecp2
    • PV
    • c-fos
    • SST
    • TH
    • VGAT
    • GFAP
    • VGLUT2
    • GfaABC1D
    • DBH
  • Common AAV Serotypes
    • Cross BBB

      AAV-PHP.eB, AAV-B10

    • Brain

      AAV1, AAV2, AAV5, AAV8, AAV9

    • PNS

      AAV-PHP.S, AAV9, AAV-MaCPNS1/2

    • Retrograde Labeling

      AAV2/retro, AAV11

    • Anterograde Trans-Synaptic

      AAV-PHP.S, AAV9, AAV-MaCPNS1/2

    Promoters
    • hSyn
    • ChAT
    • CaMKIIα
    • mDlx
    • mecp2
    • PV
    • c-fos
    • SST
    • TH
    • VGAT
    • GFAP
    • VGLUT2
    • GfaABC1D
    • DBH

Don't see the promoter you need? Many more are in our library, and custom promoter / serotype services are available.

Step 3 — Adding GOI, Tags, Reporters & Linkers

BrainVTA maintains >20,000 pre-cloned genes (human, mouse, rat and other models). Combine elements freely:

Element Options
Protein Tags 6xHis, 3XFlag,HA, Myc
Subcellular Localization
Signals
H2B(nuclear),NLS(nuclear), soma(cell body), NES (nuclear export), LCK(membrane), mito(mitochondria), axon
Linkers 2A peptide (self‑cleaving), IRES (internal ribosome entry site)
Reporters EGFP, mCherry, RFP,tagBFP, CFP, mCelulean, mCitrine, dsRed, Luciferase,ect

If your GOI isn't in our pool, we can synthesize the gene, design shRNA / CRISPR, perform site-directed mutagenesis, or PCR-amplify and subclone from your template.

Step 4 — Cloning, Validation & Delivery

Cloning Methods

Method Best for Features
Restriction-Ligation Single fragment, routine subcloning Classic, stable – requires compatible sites
Gibson Assembly 2-10 fragments, seamless No restriction sites needed
In-Fusion Single or multiple fragments Seamless, good for long fragments
TOPO / TA Cloning Quick entry of PCR products Very fast (5 min ligation)
Gateway Recombination Shuttling into multiple vectors High-throughput compatible

Quality Control & Deliverables

Every plasmid is verified by full-insert double-strand Sanger sequencing (report provided) and restriction mapping (gel image with expected sizes). You receive plasmid DNA in solution, a glycerol stock (DH5α or Stbl3), sequence files and a Certificate of Analysis. Custom constructs can be packaged into AAV, lentivirus or adenovirus on request.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which bacterial strains can I use to propagate my plasmid?
We commonly use DH5α and Stbl3, and your plasmid can be propagated in either.
Are there limits to which ORFs can be shuttled?
We commonly use DH5α and Stbl3, and your plasmid can be propagated in either.