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How do I use the Addgene MCP Connector?

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard that lets AI applications call external tools securely. Addgene’s MCP connector gives Claude and other AI assistants read-only access to Addgene’s plasmid and viral prep catalog, so you can search the repository, look up item details, and get GenBank download links for plasmid sequences, all without leaving your chat.

The Addgene connector does not place orders, sign MTAs, or change anything in your Addgene account. It also won’t help you deposit materials.

Before You Start

  • You’ll need a free Addgene account in order to use the Addgene connector.
  • You’ll also need an AI assistant that supports MCP connectors, such as Claude, Gemini, ChatGPT, or Cursor.

Connect in Claude

From the Connectors Directory: 

  1. Open Claude and go to Customize > Connectors (or use the + menu in a chat and choose Connectors).
  2. Find Addgene and select Connect.
  3. Complete the Addgene sign-in / authorization prompts in your browser.
  4. Return to Claude and confirm the connector shows as connected. Enable it for the conversation if needed.

Connect in Other AI Assistants

We are not yet listed in other AI assistants. You’ll need to review their documentation to see how to configure the Addgene MCP to work with your AI assistant. 


Claude Code

  1. Run the following command: claude mcp add --transport http addgene https://mcp-server.addgene.org/mcp 
  2. Then run /mcp and complete the Addgene sign-in / authorization prompts in your browser.

Cursor

Add the following to: ~/.cursor/mcp.json
{
 "mcpServers": {
   "Addgene": {
     "url": "https://mcp-server.addgene.org/mcp"
   }
 }
}
Then open Cursor Settings > Tools & MCP, connect Addgene, and complete the Addgene sign-in / authorization prompts in your browser.

ChatGPT desktop app

  1. Open Settings, then select MCP servers.
  2. Select Add server.
  3. Enter a name (for example Addgene), choose Streamable HTTP, and set the URL to: https://mcp
  4. server.addgene.org/mcp
  5. Save the server, then select Restart.
  6. Complete the Addgene sign-in / authorization prompts in your browser.

Important: ChatGPT web does not support MCP server URL configuration. ChatGPT web only supports MCP through their Plugins Directory. Addgene MCP is not yet listed in their directory.

What the Connector Can Do

All of the connector’s tools are read-only. When an AI assistant uses the connector, it receives publicly available catalog information from Addgene.

Tool What it does
Search Plasmids 
(list_plasmids) 		Search the plasmid catalog with free text and filters (gene, PI, backbone, promoter, species, resistance, associated publication details, and more). Returns paginated summaries with links to addgene.org.
Get Plasmid 
(get_plasmid) 		Look up one plasmid by Addgene ID (for example 240485 or 10878). Returns depositor, backbone, inserts, cloning details, growth conditions, resistance markers, and associated publication info. Optionally include sequence metadata
Search Viral Preps
(list_viral_preps) 		Search ready-to-use viral vector preps (for example AAV or lentivirus) with free text and filters such as serotype, insert, or intended use.
Get Viral Prep
(get_viral_prep) 		Look up one viral prep by ID (for example 44361-AAV1).
Get GenBank Download Link
(get_genbank_url) 		Return a temporary download URL for one plasmid sequence as a GenBank (.gb) file. Links typically expire after about an hour.

Example Prompts

Try questions like:

  • “Find plasmids for CRISPR knock-in in human cells and summarize the top matches.”
  • “Get details for Addgene plasmid 10878, including growth and resistance information.”
  • “Search AAV1 viral preps related to [gene or insert], then open the best match’s Addgene page link.”
  • “For plasmid 240485, get a GenBank download link for its sequence.”
  • “Does Addgene distribute any plasmids for the expression of Taq polymerase that are available to industry scientists?”

The AI assistant should call the connector tools and summarize results in plain language. Each result includes an addgene.org URL when available so you can quickly get to the information you need.

Tips and Limitations

  • The Addgene connector searches the catalog; it does not place orders. Use the connector to find plasmids and viral preps; place your order on addgene.org as usual.
  • Antibodies, plasmid kits, pooled libraries, and bacterial strains are not searchable yet. The Addgene connector currently covers plasmids and viral preps only.
  • Look up a known catalog item ID directly. If you already know a plasmid or viral prep’s catalog item ID, ask the AI assistant to look that item up by ID instead of by name. Searching by name can return several matches and need a second lookup, which often uses more tokens than going straight to the item.
  • Sequence search is not available. The Addgene connector cannot search by nucleotide or protein sequence the way Addgene website’s “Search by Sequence” feature can.
  • Ask for a GenBank download link instead of the full sequence text. Nucleotide sequences can be very long. Putting the whole sequence in the chat uses a large number of tokens, which can use up more of your plan’s allowance or cost more on usage-based plans.
  • GenBank links expire. If a download link fails, ask your AI assistant to fetch a fresh one.
  • This is not the Developers Portal API. The MCP connector is Addgene’s official service for AI clients. Programmatic bulk or catalog access outside MCP still uses the Developers Portal.

Privacy and Data Use

Connecting authorizes your AI assistant to call Addgene’s MCP server on your behalf using your Addgene account. When an AI assistant uses the connector, it receives publicly available catalog information from Addgene. For how Addgene handles personal information, see our Transparency & Privacy Policy.

Need Help?

Email help@addgene.org if you cannot connect, authorization fails, or a tool returns an unexpected error. Include the name of your AI assistant (for example Claude) and a short description of what you tried.

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