Principle of MAGE

Multiplex automated genome engineering (MAGE) enables scientists to modify numerous DNA regions at a time. MAGE utilizes a set of synthetic single-stranded DNA (also called oligos) to introduce the modification directly to the bacterial chromosome. These oligos enter the bacterial cell via electroporation. In order to incorporate the oligo(s) into the bacterial genome, MAGE takes the advantage of phage homologous recombination protein, which is encoded in one plasmid that is also used in the technique.

Figure 1. The principle of MAGE. During the DNA replication, the oligo will anneal to the lagging strand of the bacterial chromosome. At the end of DNA replication, the mutation is incorporated into one strand of the chromosome resulting in one chimera and one wild-type (WT). Another round of DNA replication will give us one fully mutant cell (Mut) and three wild-type cells.