# Addgene
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{{Short description|Non-profit plasmid repository organization}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Addgene
| image = Addgene logo.svg
| image_size = 220
| caption =
| founder = Benjie Chen
Kenneth Fan
Melina Fan
| type = [Non-profit organization](/source/Non-profit_organization), biological resource center
| tax_id =
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| founded = 2004
| location = [Watertown, Massachusetts](/source/Watertown%2C_Massachusetts), USA
| coordinates =
| origins =
| key_people = [Chonnettia Jones](/source/Chonnettia_Jones), Executive director
| region_served =
| products =
| services = Plasmid repository
| focus =
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}}
'''Addgene''' is a non-profit [plasmid](/source/plasmid) repository. Addgene facilitates the exchange of genetic material between laboratories by offering plasmids and their associated cloning data to non-profit and academic laboratories around the world. Addgene provides a free online database of plasmid cloning information and references, including lists of commonly used vector backbones, popular [lentiviral](/source/lentiviral) plasmids, and [molecular cloning](/source/molecular_cloning) protocols.
==History==
Addgene was founded in 2004 by Melina Fan, Kenneth Fan, and Benjie Chen.[{{cite web|last=Scudellari|first=Megan|title=Sharing Made Easy|url=http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/32532/title/Sharing-Made-Easy/|work=The Scientist|accessdate=21 November 2012|year=2012}}][{{cite journal|last=Fan|first=M|author2=Tsai, J|author3= Chen, B|author4= Fan, K|author5= LaBaer, J|title=A central repository for published plasmids.|journal=Science|date=Mar 25, 2005|volume=307|issue=5717|pages=1877|pmid=15790830|doi=10.1126/science.307.5717.1877a}}][{{cite web|last=Kamens|first=J|title=Got any plasmids?|url=http://www.labtimes.org/labtimes/issues/lt2012/lt01/lt_2012_01_58_59.pdf|work=Lab Times|accessdate=21 November 2012|pages=58–59|year=2012}}][{{Cite journal |last=Baker |first=Monya |date=2014-01-01 |title=Repositories share key research tools |journal=Nature |language=en |volume=505 |issue=7483 |pages=272 |doi=10.1038/505272a |issn=1476-4687|doi-access=free |pmid=24429608 |bibcode=2014Natur.505..272B }}]
== Plasmid repository ==
As of 2014 Addgene's repository comprised 30,000 plasmids, deposited by 1,700 labs.[{{cite journal|last=Baker|first=Monya|title=Repositories share key research tools|journal=Nature |date=2014 |volume=505 |issue=7483 |page=272 |url=http://www.nature.com/news/repositories-share-key-research-tools-1.14511|publisher=Nature.com|doi=10.1038/505272a |pmid=24429608 |bibcode=2014Natur.505..272B |accessdate=8 May 2014}}] As of 2024, the collection had grown to a size of over 147,000 plasmids, and had provided services to over 2 million vectors to over 110 different countries.[{{Cite journal |last=Remmel |first=Ariana |date=2024-09-30 |title=Twenty years of Addgene |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-03152-4 |journal=Nature |language=en |volume=634 |issue=8032 |pages=254–256 |doi=10.1038/d41586-024-03152-4|pmid=39349632 |bibcode=2024Natur.634..254R |url-access=subscription }}] Its plasmid collection contains plasmids used for functions such as [genome engineering](/source/genome_engineering) (including CRISPRS), [gene expression](/source/gene_expression), [shRNA](/source/shRNA) knockdown, viral-mediated gene delivery, detection of [miRNA](/source/miRNA) and promoter activity. The plasmid collection includes:
* Genome engineering
** [CRISPR](/source/CRISPR)s
** [Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nuclease](/source/Transcription_Activator-Like_Effector_Nuclease) (TALEN) kits
** [Zinc finger nuclease](/source/Zinc_finger_nuclease) kits
* Empty backbones
** Species-specific expression
** Epitope tags
** Fusion proteins
** Selectable markers
** [Fluorescent marker](/source/Fluorescent_marker)
* Viral vectors
** Retroviral/Lentiviral
** [Adenoviral](/source/Adenoviral)
** [AAV](/source/Adeno-associated_virus)
* [cDNA](/source/cDNA) expression
* shRNA expression
==Tools and guides==
'''Molecular biology tools'''
[http://www.addgene.org/vector-database/ Vector Database]—A curated list of over 4,000 vector backbones, including relevant cloning information and bacterial growth conditions.
[http://www.addgene.org/analyze-sequence/ Sequence Analyzer]—An Addgene software tool for creating plasmid maps from sequences with annotated features and restriction sites.
[http://www.addgene.org/mol_bio_reference/ Molecular Biology Reference]—A collection of references for molecular biology reagents, such as primers, restriction enzymes and antibiotic concentrations.
'''Plasmid Cloning Guides'''
[http://www.addgene.org/plasmid_reference/ Molecular Cloning Guides]—References to help scientists design plasmid cloning experiments, including tutorials on restriction enzyme digestion and PCR-based cloning.
[http://www.addgene.org/plasmid_reference/index/ Molecular Cloning Protocols]—Specific protocols for a variety of plasmid cloning techniques, such as isolation of bacterial colonies, DNA purification by [gel electrophoresis](/source/gel_electrophoresis) and bacterial transformation.
==Collaborations==
Addgene collaborates with institutes and consortia to curate plasmid collections for specific purposes. Examples of these collaborations include special collections from the [Structural Genomics Consortium](/source/Structural_Genomics_Consortium), Zinc Finger Consortium, the Cell Migration Consortium, the [KLF](/source/Kr%C3%BCppel-like_factors) collection and [The Michael J. Fox Foundation](/source/The_Michael_J._Fox_Foundation).[{{cite web|last=Resende|first=Patricia|title=Addgene partners with Michael J. Fox Foundation|url=http://www.masshightech.com/stories/2012/10/01/daily32-Addgene-partners-with-Michael-J-Fox-Foundation.html|work=Mass High Tech|accessdate=21 November 2012|date=3 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009211846/http://www.masshightech.com/stories/2012/10/01/daily32-Addgene-partners-with-Michael-J-Fox-Foundation.html|archive-date=9 October 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}] The plasmids are available to both academic and industry labs.
In 2020, Addgene received funding from [Fast Grants](/source/Fast_Grants) to subsidize the cost of reagents for [COVID-19](/source/COVID-19) research.[{{Cite web |title=Fast Grants |url=https://fastgrants.org/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211223005332/https://fastgrants.org/ |archive-date=2021-12-23 |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=Fast Grants |language=en}}]
==Depositors==
Noteworthy depositors include:{{Citation needed|date=April 2016}}
*13 Nobel Prize winners; [John Gurdon](/source/John_Gurdon), [Shinya Yamanaka](/source/Shinya_Yamanaka), [Bruce Beutler](/source/Bruce_Beutler), [Mario Capecchi](/source/Mario_Capecchi), [Andrew Fire](/source/Andrew_Fire), [Richard Axel](/source/Richard_Axel), [Eric Wieschaus](/source/Eric_Wieschaus), [Phillip Sharp](/source/Phillip_Sharp), [Robert Lefkowitz](/source/Robert_Lefkowitz), [Martin Chalfie](/source/Martin_Chalfie), [Roger Tsien](/source/Roger_Tsien), [Jennifer Doudna](/source/Jennifer_Doudna), and [Johann Deisenhofer](/source/Johann_Deisenhofer).
*8 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences winners; [Cori Bargmann](/source/Cori_Bargmann), [David Botstein](/source/David_Botstein), [Lewis C. Cantley](/source/Lewis_C._Cantley), [Hans Clevers](/source/Hans_Clevers), [Titia de Lange](/source/Titia_de_Lange), [Bert Vogelstein](/source/Bert_Vogelstein), [Robert Weinberg](/source/Robert_Weinberg_(biologist)) and [Shinya Yamanaka](/source/Shinya_Yamanaka).
==Electronic Material Transfer Agreements==
Addgene requires [Material Transfer Agreement](/source/Material_Transfer_Agreement)s (MTAs) for all materials transferred through Addgene to protect the intellectual property of plasmid depositors. Addgene developed one of the first electronic systems for handling MTAs.[{{cite journal|last=Herscovitch|first=Melanie|author2=Perkins, Eric|author3= Baltus, Andy|author4= Fan, Melina|title=Addgene provides an open forum for plasmid sharing|journal=Nature Biotechnology|date=10 April 2012|volume=30|issue=4|pages=316–317|doi=10.1038/nbt.2177|pmid=22491276}}] By using the standard Universal Biological Material Transfer Agreement (UBMTA) and implementing electronic signatures, Addgene's electronic MTA (eMTA) system expedites the approval process for plasmid orders.
==Awards==
Addgene won awards for innovation and research including Mass Nonprofit Network Award for excellence in Innovations,[{{cite web|title=mass nonprofit network nominates addgene for an excellence award|url=http://www.prlog.org/12151032-mass-nonprofit-network-nominates-addgene-for-an-excellence-award.pdf|accessdate=9 May 2014}}][{{cite web|title=mass non-profit, nonprofit award 2013 excellence in innovation finalists|url=http://www.massnonprofitnet.org/training-and-events/nonprofit-awareness-day/2013-excellence-awards/2013-excellence-in-innovation-finalists/|accessdate=9 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130902084152/http://www.massnonprofitnet.org/training-and-events/nonprofit-awareness-day/2013-excellence-awards/2013-excellence-in-innovation-finalists/|archive-date=2013-09-02|url-status=dead}}] Cambridge award program 2014 Award for Research & Development Laboratories,[{{cite web|title=cambridge recognition awarding|url=http://cambridge.cambridge.recognitionawarding.com/PressReleaseub.aspx?cc=DC7-EQ7D-W633|accessdate=9 May 2014}}] Mass Technology Leadership Award Finalist 2012.[{{cite web|title=Mass Tech announces finalist|url=http://blog.masstlc.org/2012/07/masstlc-announces-finalist-for-15th_20.html|accessdate=9 May 2014|archive-date=17 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417040601/http://blog.masstlc.org/2012/07/masstlc-announces-finalist-for-15th_20.html|url-status=dead}}]
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
==External links==
*{{Official website|http://www.addgene.org}}
=== Other plasmid repositories ===
*[BCCM](/source/Belgian_Co-ordinated_Collections_of_Micro-organisms)/[http://bccm.belspo.be/about-us/bccm-lmbp LMBP]
*[http://old-site.bioss-freiburg.de/www.bioss.uni-freiburg.de/toolbox/ BIOSS Toolbox]
*[PSI](/source/Protein_Structure_Initiative) [https://dnasu.org/DNASU/Home.do DNASU]
*[https://plasmid.med.harvard.edu/PLASMID/Home.xhtml Harvard PlasmID]
{{Authority control}}
Category:Gene banks
Category:Biotechnology databases
Category:Non-profit organizations based in Massachusetts
Category:2004 establishments in Massachusetts
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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Addgene](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addgene) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addgene?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.