prasher@HYATT.WHOI.EDU (Doug Prasher) (07/27/90)
Fellow Netters, Below is a summary of the responses to my June 21 posting requesting people's comments regarding commercially available electroporators (BRL, Hoeffer, Fisher, BioRad) for BACTERIAL TRANSFORMATIONS: A total of 5 people responded, three of which are using the BioRad unit. One reported a transformation efficiency of 10E10. If you never replied to my first posting, yours comments are still welcome. Some of the comments received to date are copied here: Comment #1: I have not used any but the BioRad unit. It works very well. While it is rather expensive, we chose it because it has very nice design of cuvettes that one can place anywhere from 40 micorliters to 1 ml. These cuvettes are $3 a piece, but are steam sterilizable. The BioRad unit gives about the highest voltage per cm of any unit when using a 4 mm path. This is particularly relavant when doing bacterial electroporations. Using the protocols provided, we get 10E10 transformants per microgram of input test plasmids. Comment #2: We are just in the process of getting an electroporator for bacteria. One thing you may not be aware of is that most of the units you ask about need an attachment to work efficiently with bacteria. This is called different things from different companies, but basically increases the voltage to 4000 or 6000 volts. It adds about $600 to the price of the BRL and BioRAd systems. I do not know if Hoeffer or Fisher need it or not. Be sure to get prices for systems designed for bacteria, and not systems designed for plant or mammalian cells which I think is true of the Hoeffer specifically. Also IBI has just introduced a new model. Thanks to the following people for sending their comments: MW Clarke Dana Fowkles Mike Benedik John McFadden Patrick Linder Douglas Prasher Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
chend@ucs.orst.edu (Donald Chen - Microbiology) (10/26/90)
Hi.
Our lab is interested in purchasing an electroporator for
transforming Bacillus subtilis. We have a limited budget and
would like to get the best machine at the least price. There are
no labs on campus who are presently using electroporators for
transforming bacterial cells so we would like the net's advice.
I've gotten catalogues and literature from:
1. Bio-Rad
2. BTX
3. IBI
4. BRL
It is my understanding that for our system we would need:
1. Transformer
2. Pulse controller
3. Capacitance extender
While Bio-Rad, BRL and IBI sell the three units separately, BTX sell it
all in one machine. In terms of general convience, the BTX device seems
the best bet (eg no excess cords, boxes, won't get lost), however,
I don't have any experience with this company. The BRL system appears
to be cheapest. Bio-Rad devices are most often cited in the literature,
but they are the most expensive.
If you have had experience with any of these devices, especially in
transforming gram-positive bacterial cells, I would be grateful for
any advice, comments, recommendations. This includes the continuing
costs of cells (these really cost $3 a piece?) and perhaps warranty
and repair services and other support.
Thanks. I'll summarize the comments I receive.
Don Chen
Don Chen Dept of Microbiology Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331 (503) 737-4441
chend@beasley.ucs.orst.edu
chend@bionette.cgrb.orst.edu