Escherichia coli is naturally transformable in a novel transformation system.
A novel transformation system, in which neither a nonphysiological concentration of Ca2+ and temperature shifts nor electronic shocks were required, was developed to determine whether Escherichia coli is naturally transformable. In the new protocol, E. coli was cultured normally to the stationary phase and then cultured statically at 37 degrees C in Luria-Bertani broth. After static culture, transformation occurred in bacteria spread on Luria-Bertani plates. The protein synthesis inhibitor chloramphenicol inhibited this transformation process. The need for protein synthesis in plated bacteria suggests that the transformation of E. coli in this new system is regulated physiologically.
Sun
Dongchang
D
College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
Zhang
Yanmei
Y
Mei
Yunjun
Y
Jiang
Hui
H
Xie
Zhixiong
Z
Liu
Huihui
H
Chen
Xiangdong
X
Shen
Ping
P
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003470:Culture Media; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D013696:Temperature; D014169:Transformation, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003470:Culture Media