MIDGE® DNA
Minimized DNA in linear form with caps
An alternative concept for the production of minimal DNA vectors, which contain only the information necessary for the intended effect, is e.g. MIDGE® (minimal immunologically defined gene expression) DNA. The MIDGE structure is linear and tightly closed by single-stranded hairpin regions at both ends. This leads to the characteristic small size of these molecules, which – like the Minicircles – have already been used in preclinical research as well as in clinical studies.
However, such linear molecules do not have the superhelicity characteristic of intact plasmids and PlasmidFactory‘s Minicircles, so that Minicircle DNA is, in our view, the preferred system when choosing a suitable DNA vector.
PlasmidFactory holds the worldwide trademark rights for the MIDGE technology.
MIDGE® features
- no bacterial backbone sequences (e.g. ori, antibiotic resistance marker)
- linear DNA fragment of minimal size
- highly purified
- reduced CpG content
- improved safety
- minimized side effects
In contrast to previously available processes, which were qualitatively and quantitatively sufficient for the production of plasmid DNA for research purposes, a process must now be developed through which plasmids can be produced as high quality grade in sufficient quantities. Due to the high quality requirements, this represents a major challenge that currently needs to be solved both in the area of fermentation as well as chromatographic processing of the DNA product. Thanks to its expertise, PlasmidFactory has a pioneering role to play here – a challenge we are happy to take on.