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Adding ethanol during transformation? - (Sep/25/2008 )

I was looking around the internet for ways to improve the competency of my E. coli cells, and I came across a paper where they describe adding absolute ethanol during the transformation step (before heat shock) and they saw a dramatic improvement in the number of transformants. Apparently the ethanol helps to perturb the cell membrane resulting in better uptake of DNA. I was wondering if anyone has tried this??

-smu2-

i didnt know that!!..
the protocol to improve the competency is to make a good solution of ttfi and ttf2 from maniatis book. aNd to use a good bacteria not one that you freeze and un freeze.!

good luck.

If not you could electroporate!

-capu-