beta-ME in transformations?
tara_mccready at darwin.biochem.ualberta.ca
Fri Jul 7 15:38:44 EST 1995
Stratagene recommends using 25mM beta-mercaptoethanol in transformations
of their competent TOPP strains (as well as XL1-Blue, JM109 and others).
They state that it has been shown to increase transformation efficiencies
2-3 fold. Their protocol involves incubating thawed cells in BME for 10
minutes on ice before addition of DNA. Can anyone tell me how this
increases transformation efficiency? In my hands it appears to reduce the
number of transformants, if anything.
Dept of Biochemistry
University of Alberta
Tara_McCready at darwin.biochem.ualberta.ca
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