Polyethylene glycol-mediated bacterial colony transformation
Kurien, B.T.; Scofield, R.H.
Biotechniques 18(6): 1023-1026
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0736-6205 PMID: 7546702 Document Number: 452734
A moderately efficient and quick method of bacterial colony transformation is described Plasmid DNA was added to bacteria suspended in a solution of polyethylene glycol/calcium chloride (PEG/CaCl-2). After a brief incubation and heat shock, the cells were directly plated Transformation efficiencies up to 8.6 +- 1.28 times 10-6 transformants per microgram of pUC18 were obtained. We have found that the reverse of the transformation process could also take place. Suspending a bacterial pellet harboring the plasmid of interest in PEG/CaCl-2 results in the release of the plasmid DNA, and thus indirectly lends support to the transformation process.