title: Exploring permeability of Escherichia coli competence using quantum dots as fluorescent probes.
abstract: Though people had recognized the pivotal function of CaCl(2) during DNA transformation into Escherichia coli, the mechanism of divalent Ca(2+) cation inducing E. coli competence development is still unknowable. Quantum dots (QDs), as a new fluorescent probe, being applied in biology research, had aroused great interest. We explored the penetrability of E. coli competent cells membrane using QDs and proved directly that competent cells were more permeable than that of noncompetent. The results are significant on understanding the problems of the microbiological genetics.
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, PR China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wenhua
authors.forename: Xie
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Haiyan
authors.forename: Xie
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhixiong
authors.forename: Ou
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Jianhong
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xiangdong
authors.forename: Shen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ping
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D010957:Plasmids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D045663:Quantum Dots; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D014169:Transformation, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D002118:Calcium