title: Polyethylene glycol-mediated bacterial colony transformation.
abstract: 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/CaCl2). After a brief incubation and heat shock, the cells were directly plated. Transformation efficiencies up to 8.6 +/- 1.28 x 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/CaCl2 results in the release of the plasmid DNA, and thus indirectly lends support to the transformation process.
authors.affiliation: Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, USA.
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Kurien
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Scofield
mesh_terms: D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics*; D010957:Plasmids; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013997:Time Factors; D014169:Transformation, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D011092:Polyethylene Glycols