title: A general method for polyethylene-glycol-induced genetic transformation of bacteria and yeast.
abstract: Polyethylene glycol (PEG) can induce genetic transformation in both bacteria (Escherichia coli) and yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) without cell wall removal. PEG-mediated transformation of E. coli is technically simple and yields transformants with an efficiency of 10(6)-10(7) transformants/microgram DNA. Detailed analysis of the parameters involved in PEG-mediated transformation of E. coli reveals basic differences between the PEG and standard CaCl2 methods for transformation of E. coli. PEG-mediated transformation of yeast is far simpler than existing protoplast methods and is comparable in efficiency. The new methods described here for PEG-mediated genetic transformation may prove to be of general utility in performing genetic transformation in a wide variety of organisms.
mesh_terms: D002412:Cations / Q000494:pharmacology; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014170:Transformation, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D004247:DNA