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Competent Cells and Transformation
GoldBio offers an extensive collection of efficient chemically competent and electrocompetent cells with high transformation efficiencies to match your specific downstream applications: general cloning, protein expression, library construction, and many more.
- GoldBio's wide range of chemically competent and electrocompetent cells are optimized to provide lot-to-lot consistency and up to 10X higher transformation efficiency.
- Our universal recovery medium (SOC) formulation accompanies ALL of GoldBio's competent cells.
- We carry multiple Endonuclease I-deficient (endA1) competent bacterial cell strains to suit your cloning needs and ensure your transformations result in high quality and yield of plasmid DNA.
- Choose from E. coli strains with different selectable markers and screening options including the classic blue/white selection.
- GoldBio cells are ideal for distinct downstream applications from routine cloning/subcloning and protein expression to the more complex library construction, and cloning of difficult targets.
- Our electrocompetent Agrobacterium cells contain an efficient T-DNA binary system for genetic material transfer into the host plant cells.
CHOOSE THE BEST COMPETENT CELLS FOR YOUR APPLICATION!
Our DH5-alpha, BL21, BL21(DE3), DH10B, DH10B-Pro, DL39(DE3), and Agrobacterium cells are available in multiple formats to provide you with flexibility when planning your experiments. GoldBio also provides easy-to-follow protocols, FAQs, protocol videos and selection guides to ensure success of your transformations!
Use GoldBio's Competent Cell Guide to Select the Right Competent Cells for your Assay
Includes transformation efficiencies, genotype, strain information, screening methods and applicatio...
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BROWSE OUR TRANSFORMATION AND COMPETENT CELL RESOURCES
Your time in the lab is valuable! In this section you will find GoldBio's transformation tools designed to help support and simplify your competent cell transformations. You can access specific chemical transformation or electroporation protocols for each of our competent cell lines, antibiotic information, colony screening protocols, instructional blog articles, detailed guides containing competent cells characteristics and downstream applications, FAQs, electroporation troubleshooting tips and video protocols.
Electroporation and Electrocompetent Cells FAQs:
What is electroporation?
Electroporation is a technique commonly used in transformation assays to introduce DNA into an electrocompetent cell. During electroporation a transient current or electrical pulse is applied to cells that have been suspended in a solution. The current momentarily increases the permeability of the cell's membrane, creating holes (a pathway) that allow DNA (plasmids) to pass through and enter the cell. Generally, electroporation can be more effective than chemical transformation.
When should I use electrocompetent cells?
Electrocompetent cells have a higher transformation efficiency than chemically competent cells. The use of electrocompetent cells facilitate the transformation of large plasmids, including BACs (Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes), that might otherwise be difficult to transform using chemical transformation.
How do I prevent arcing during electroporation?
Arcing during electroporation can be avoided by making sure there are no air bubbles in the cell/DNA solution prior to electroporation. Also, desalt your DNA since the presence of conductive ions in the solution will cause arcing and electroporation failure. In addition, ensure that your equipment, including the cuvette is properly cleaned and in good condition.
Showing 1-20 of 22 items.
AGL-1 Agrobacterium Chemically Competent Cells
| Catalog ID | Size | Pricing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CC-106-5x50 | 5 x 50 μL | $ 189.00 | |
| CC-106-10x50 | 10 x 50 μL | $ 335.00 | |
| CC-106-15x50 | 15 x 50 μL | $ 449.00 |
Description
GoldBio’s AGL-1 Agrobacterium chemically competent cells allow you to obtain high transformation efficiency in applications such as gDNA or cDNA library construction. Our AGL-1 strain harbors the C58 chromosomal backbone with an insertion mutation in its recA recombination gene. This mutation stabilizes recombinant plasmids. AGL-1 also has rifampicin and carbenicillin resistance genes in the genome useful for selection. A functional T-DNA binary system can be built using our AGL-1 strains as the T-DNA region has been deleted from the Ti plasmid pTiBO542 and instead it has a binary vector containing the missing T-region. The binary system makes possible to transfer genetic material into a host plant S genome. Therefore, our system is often used for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation in mono and dicotyledonous species such as Arabidopsis thaliana, maize, and other plants.
Product Specifications
Competent cell type: Chemical Competent
Species: A. tumefaciens
Strain: AGL-1
Transformation efficiency: ≥4 x 104 cfu/µg pCAMBIA1391z DNA
Blue/white screening: No
AGL-1 Agrobacterium Electrocompetent Cells
| Catalog ID | Size | Pricing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CC-208-5x50 | 5 x 50 μL | $ 199.00 | |
| CC-208-10x50 | 10 x 50 μL | $ 359.00 | |
| CC-208-15x50 | 15 x 50 μL | $ 485.00 |
Description
GoldBio’s AGL-1 Agrobacterium Electrocompetent Cells allow you to obtain high transformation efficiency in applications such as gDNA or cDNA library construction. Our AGL-1 strain harbors the C58 chromosomal backbone with an insertion mutation in its recA recombination gene. This mutation stabilizes recombinant plasmids. AGL-1 also has rifampicin and carbenicillin resistance genes in the genome useful for selection. A functional T-DNA binary system can be built using our AGL-1 strains as the T-DNA region has been deleted in the Ti plasmid pTiBO542 and instead it has a binary vector containing the missing T-region. The binary system makes possible to transfer genetic material into a host plant’s genome. Therefore, our system is often used for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation in mono and dicotyledonous species such as Arabidopsis thaliana, maize, and other plants.
Product Specifications
Competent cell type: ElectroCompetent
Species: A. tumefaciens
Strain: AGL-1
Transformation efficiency: ≥5 x 107 cfu/µg pCAMBIA1391z DNA
Blue/white screening: No
BL21 (DE3) Chemically Competent E. coli Cells
| Catalog ID | Size | Pricing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CC-103-5x50 | 5 x 50 μL | $ 59.00 | |
| CC-103-10x50 | 10 x 50 μL | $ 105.00 | |
| CC-103-15x50 | 15 x 50 μL | $ 139.00 | |
| CC-103-20x50 | 20 x 50 μL | $ 165.00 |
Description
GoldBio’s BL21 (DE3) Chemically Competent E. coli cells are high efficiency cells, suitable for a wide variety of applications such as transformation and routine protein expression. BL21 (DE3) chemically competent cells feature a widely used host background, a T7 expression strain, and are deficient in both lon (1) and ompT proteases. In addition, BL21 (DE3) cells are resistant to phage T1 (fhuA2) and are B strain.
Product Specifications
Competent cell type: Chemically Competent
Derivative of: BL21 (DE3)
Species: E. coli
Transformation efficiency: ≥1 x 106 cfu/µg pUC19 DNA
Blue/white screening: Yes
BL21 (DE3) Electrocompetent E. coli Cells
| Catalog ID | Size | Pricing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CC-204-5x50 | 5 x 50 μL | $ 119.00 | |
| CC-204-10x50 | 10 x 50 μL | $ 215.00 | |
| CC-204-15x50 | 15 x 50 μL | $ 295.00 |
Description
GoldBio’s BL21 (DE3) Electrocompetent E. coli cells are suitable for high efficiency transformation and routine protein expression. Increased cloning efficiencies versus typical BL21 cells makes the BL21 (DE3) Electrocompetent E. coli cells ideal for construction of complex expression libraries and feature ≥1 x 108 cfu/µg efficiency with electroporation. BL21 (DE3) Electrocompetent E. coli cells have a widely used background, feature a T7 expression strain, are deficient in both lon (1) and ompT proteases. These cells are resistant to phage T1(fhuA2) and are B strain.
Product Specifications
Competent cell type: ElectroCompetent
Derivative of: BL21 (DE3)
Species: E. coli
Format: Tubes
Transformation efficiency: ≥1 x 108 cfu/µg pUC19 DNA
Blue/white screening: Yes
C58C1 Agrobacterium Chemically Competent Cells
| Catalog ID | Size | Pricing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CC-109-5x50 | 5 x 50 μL | $ 189.00 | |
| CC-109-10x50 | 10 x 50 μL | $ 335.00 | |
| CC-109-15x50 | 15 x 50 μL | $ 449.00 |
Description
GoldBio’s C58C1 Chemically Competent Agrobacterium cells allow you to obtain high transformation efficiency in applications such as gDNA or cDNA library construction. C58C1 has the chromosomal backbone of C58 but it has been cured of the Ti plasmid pTiC58. Our C58C1 strain harbors streptomycin and rifampicin resistance genes. C58C1 Competent cells are optimized for genetic transformation of plants such as Arabidopsis but can be used in many other plants.
Product Specifications
Competent cell type: Chemical Competent
Species: A. tumefaciens
Strain: C58C1
Transformation efficiency: ≥1 x 105 cfu/µg pCAMBIA1391z DNA
Blue/white screening: No
C58C1 Agrobacterium ElectroCompetent Cells
| Catalog ID | Size | Pricing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CC-240-5x50 | 5 x 50 μL | $ 199.00 | |
| CC-240-10x50 | 10 x 50 μL | $ 359.00 | |
| CC-240-15x50 | 15 x 50 μL | $ 485.00 |
Description
GoldBio’s C58C1 ElectroCompetent Agrobacterium cells allow you to obtain high transformation efficiency in applications such as gDNA or cDNA library construction. C58C1 has the chromosomal backbone of C58 but it has been cured of the Ti plasmid pTiC58. Our C58C1 strain harbors streptomycin and rifampicin resistance genes. C58C1 Competent cells are optimized for genetic transformation of plants such as Arabidopsis but can be used in many other plants.
Product Specifications
Competent cell type: ElectroCompetent
Species: A. tumefaciens
Strain: C58C1
Transformation efficiency: ≥1 x 107 cfu/µg pCAMBIA1391z DNA
Blue/white screening: No
Competent Cell Recovery Medium
| Catalog ID | Size | Pricing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CC-300-A | 6 x 12 ml | $ 80.00 |
Description
GoldBio’s Universal Competent Cell Recovery Medium is specifically formulated for optimal competent cell transformations of every kind of cell, including E. coli and Agrobacterium.
DH10B Chemically Competent E. coli Cells
| Catalog ID | Size | Pricing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CC-100-5x50 | 5 x 50 μL | $ 59.00 | |
| CC-100-5x100 | 5 x 100 μL | $ 105.00 | |
| CC-100-10x50 | 10 x 50 μL | $ 105.00 | |
| CC-100-15x50 | 15 x 50 μL | $ 139.00 | |
| CC-100-20x50 | 20 x 50 μL | $ 165.00 |
Description
GoldBio’s DH10B Chemically Competent E. coli cells are high efficiency cells, suitable for a wide variety of applications such as cloning and sub-cloning. DH10B Chemically Competent E. coli cells have multiple features including the ɸ80lacZ∆M15 marker, which provides α-complementation of the β-galactosidase gene with blue/white screening protocol. These cells also have the mcrA genotypic marker and the mcrBC, mrr deletion, which allows for cloning of DNA that contains methylcytosine and methyladenine.
Product Specifications
Competent cell type: Chemically competent
Derivative of: DH10B™
Species: E. coli
Transformation efficiency: ≥8.2 x 106 cfu/µg pUC19 DNA
Blue/white screening: Yes
DH10B Electrocompetent E. coli Cells
| Catalog ID | Size | Pricing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CC-200-5x50 | 5 x 50 μL | $ 119.00 | |
| CC-200-5x100 | 5 x 100 μL | $ 185.00 | |
| CC-200-10x50 | 10 x 50 μL | $ 215.00 | |
| CC-200-15x50 | 15 x 50 μL | $ 295.00 |
Description
GoldBio’s DH10B Electrocompetent E. coli cells are high efficiency cells, ≥2 x 108 cfu/µg plasmid DNA, suitable for a wide variety of applications requiring high transformation efficiencies, such as cloning and subcloning, as well as working with either cDNA or gDNA library construction. DH10B Electrocompetent E. coli cells have multiple features including the ɸ80lacZ∆M15 marker, which provides α-complementation of the β-galactosidase gene with blue/white screening protocol. These cells also have the mcrA genotypic marker and the mcrBC, mrr deletion, which allows for cloning of DNA that contains methylcytosine and methyladenine. Here, we present a detailed protocol for electroporation using DH10B Electrocompetent E. coli cells.
Product Specifications
Competent cell type: ElectroCompetent
Derivative of: DH10B™
Species: E. coli
Transformation efficiency: ≥2 x 108 cfu/µg pUC19 DNA
Blue/white screening: Yes
Product Specifications
| Catalog ID | CC-200 |
|---|---|
| Storage/Handling | Store Competent Cells at -80°C. |
DH10B-Pro™ Electrocompetent E. coli Cells
| Catalog ID | Size | Pricing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CC-201-5x50 | 5 x 50 μL | $ 119.00 | |
| CC-201-5x100 | 5 x 100 μL | $ 215.00 |
Description
GoldBio’s DH10B-Pro™ Electrocompetent E. coli cells are especially designed for the most demanding cloning applications. DH10-Pro™ cells will provide the greatest number of transformants for when your research requires it, including assembling large and multi-DNA fragments, cloning large (≥10 kb up to 350 kb) or difficult construct transformations, working with synthetic bio-applications, and even BAC cloning.
Product Specifications
Competent cell type: ElectroCompetent
Derivative of: DH10B™
Species: E. coli
Transformation efficiency:≥1 x 109 cfu/µg pUC19 DNA
Blue/white screening: Yes
DH5-alpha Chemically Competent E. coli Cells
| Catalog ID | Size | Pricing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CC-101-5x50 | 5 x 50 μL | $ 59.00 | |
| CC-101-5x100 | 5 x 100 μL | $ 105.00 | |
| CC-101-10x50 | 10 x 50 μL | $ 105.00 | |
| CC-101-15x50 | 15 x 50 μL | $ 139.00 | |
| CC-101-20x50 | 20 x 50 μL | $ 165.00 |
Description
GoldBio’s DH5-alpha Chemically Competent E. coli cells are suitable for high efficiency transformation in a wide variety of routine applications such as plasmid isolation, cloning, and subcloning.
Product Specifications
Competent cell type: Chemically Competent
Derivative of: DH5-alpha
Species: E. coli
Transformation efficiency: ≥5 x 106 cfu/µg pUC19 DNA
Blue/white screening: Yes
DH5-alpha Electrocompetent E. coli Cells
| Catalog ID | Size | Pricing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CC-203-5x50 | 5 x 50 μL | $ 119.00 | |
| CC-203-5x100 | 5 x 100 μL | $ 185.00 | |
| CC-203-10x50 | 10 x 50 μL | $ 215.00 | |
| CC-203-15x50 | 15 x 50 μL | $ 295.00 | |
| CC-203-10x100 | 10 x 100 μL | $ 315.00 | |
| CC-203-15x100 | 15 x 100 μL | $ 399.00 |
Description
GoldBio’s DH5-alpha Electrocompetent E. coli are high efficiency cells, suitable for a wide variety of applications such as cloning and sub-cloning. Plasmid quality and yields are both enhanced in our DH5-alpha cells due to mutations in both endA1 and recA1.
Product Specifications
Competent cell type: ElectroCompetent
Derivative of: DH5-alpha
Species: E. coli
Transformation efficiency: ≥5 x 108 cfu/µg pUC19 DNA
Blue/white screening: Yes
DL39 (DE3) Chemically Competent E. coli Cells
| Catalog ID | Size | Pricing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CC-104-5x50 | 5 x 50 μL | $ 59.00 | |
| CC-104-10x50 | 10 x 50 μL | $ 105.00 |
Description
GoldBio’s DL39 (DE3) Chemically Competent E. coli cells are engineered with a T7 expression system to transform and express proteins in order to label residues such as phenylalanine or leucine. DL39 (DE3) Chemically Competent E. coli cells are deficient in the aromatic (TyrB), branched-chain (JIvE), and aspartate (AspC) transaminases and are auxotrophic for aspartic acid, isoleucine, leucine, phenylananine, tyrosine, and valine residues.
Product Specifications
Competent cell type: Chemically Competent
Derivative of: DL39
Species: E. coli
Transformation efficiency: ≥1 x 107 cfu/µg pUC19 DNA
Blue/white screening: Yes
EHA105 Agrobacterium Chemically Competent Cells
| Catalog ID | Size | Pricing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CC-108-5x50 | 5 x 50 μL | $ 189.00 | |
| CC-108-10x50 | 10 x 50 μL | $ 335.00 | |
| CC-108-15x50 | 15 x 50 μL | $ 449.00 |
Description
GoldBio’s EHA105 Agrobacterium chemically competent cells allow you to obtain high transformation efficiency in applications such as gDNA or cDNA library construction. Our EHA105 strain contains a rifampicin resistance gene (rif) and an amber basic Ti plasmid pEHA105 (pTiBo542DT-DNA) without self-transport function, containing the vir gene. EHA105 is ideal for genetic transformation of rice, tobacco and several other plants.
Product Specifications
Competent cell type: Chemical Competent
Species: A. tumefaciens
Strain: EHA105
Transformation efficiency: ≥5 x 104 cfu/µg pCAMBIA1391z DNA
Blue/white screening: No
EHA105 Agrobacterium ElectroCompetent Cells
| Catalog ID | Size | Pricing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CC-225-5x50 | 5 x 50 μL | $ 199.00 | |
| CC-225-10x50 | 10 x 50 μL | $ 359.00 | |
| CC-225-15x50 | 15 x 50 μL | $ 485.00 |
Description
GoldBio’s EHA105 ElectroCompetent Agrobacterium cells allow you to obtain high transformation efficiency in applications such as gDNA or cDNA library construction. Our EHA105 strain contains a rifampicin resistance gene (rif) and an amber basic Ti plasmid pEHA105 (pTiBo542DT-DNA) without self-transport function, containing the vir gene. EHA105 is ideal for genetic transformation of rice, tobacco and several other plants.
Product Specifications
Competent cell type: ElectroCompetent
Species: A. tumefaciens
Strain: EHA105
Transformation efficiency: ≥1.6 x 108 cfu/µg pCAMBIA1391z DNA
Blue/white screening: No
GV3101 Agrobacterium Chemically Competent Cells
| Catalog ID | Size | Pricing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CC-105-5x50 | 5 x 50 μL | $ 189.00 | |
| CC-105-10x50 | 10 x 50 μL | $ 335.00 | |
| CC-105-15x50 | 15 x 50 μL | $ 449.00 |
Description
GoldBio’s GV3101 Agrobacterium chemically competent cells allow you to obtain high transformation efficiency in applications such as gDNA or cDNA library construction. Our GV3101 strain harbors the C58 chromosomal backbone containing rifampicin resistance and the Ti plasmid pmp90 (pTiC58DT-DNA) harboring the gentamicin resistance. A functional T-DNA binary system can be built using our GV3101 strains as the T-DNA region has been deleted in the Ti plasmid and instead has a binary vector containing the missing T-region. The binary system makes possible to transfer genetic material into a host plant’s genome. Our system is often used for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation in mono and dicotyledonous species such as Arabidopsis thaliana, tobacco, potato, soybeans and corn.
Product Specifications
Competent cell type: Chemically Competent
Species: A. tumefaciens
Strain: GV3101
Transformation efficiency: ≥6 x 104 cfu/µg pCAMBIA1391z DNA
Blue/white screening: No
GV3101 Agrobacterium Electrocompetent Cells
| Catalog ID | Size | Pricing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CC-207-5x50 | 5 x 50 μL | $ 199.00 | |
| CC-207-10x50 | 10 x 50 μL | $ 359.00 | |
| CC-207-15x50 | 15 x 50 μL | $ 485.00 |
Description
GoldBio’s GV3101 Agrobacterium Electrocompetent Cells allow you to obtain high transformation efficiency in applications such as gDNA or cDNA library construction. Our GV3101 strain harbors the C58 chromosomal backbone containing rifampicin resistance and the Ti plasmid pmp90 (pTiC58DT-DNA) harboring the gentamicin resistance. A functional T-DNA binary system can be built using our GV3101 strains as the T-DNA region has been deleted from the Ti plasmid and instead has a binary vector containing the missing T-region. The binary system makes possible to transfer genetic material into a host plant’s genome. Our system is often used for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation in mono and dicotyledonous species such as Arabidopsis thaliana, tobacco, potato, soybeans and corn.
Product Specifications
Competent cell type: ElectroCompetent
Species: A. tumefaciens
Strain: GV3101
Transformation efficiency: ≥2 x 108 cfu/µg pCAMBIA1391z DNA
Blue/white screening: No
HB101 Chemically Competent E. coli Cells
| Catalog ID | Size | Pricing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CC-150-5x50 | 5 x 50 µl | $ 59.00 | |
| CC-150-10x50 | 10 x 50 µl | $ 105.00 |
Description
GoldBio’s HB101 chemically competent E. coli cells allow you to obtain high transformation efficiency in applications such cloning and sub-cloning. Our E. coli HB101 proceeds from the K12 x B hybrid strain. HB101 strain also contains the recA13 mutation useful in the insert stability and minimization of recombination. E. coli HB101 also has the hsdS20(rB-mB-) genotype that prevents the cleavage of cloned DNA by endogenous restriction enzymes.
Product Specifications
Competent cell type: Chemically competent
Derivative of: HB101
Species: E. coli
Transformation efficiency: ≥7 x 106 cfu/µg pUC19 DNA
Blue/white screening: No
JM109 Chemically Competent E. coli Cells
| Catalog ID | Size | Pricing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CC-114-5x50 | 5 x 50 µl | $ 59.00 | |
| CC-114-10x50 | 10 x 50 µl | $ 105.00 |
Description
GoldBio’s JM109 Chemically Competent E. coli cells are suitable for high efficiency transformation in a wide variety of routine applications such as plasmid isolation, library construction, cloning, and subcloning. JM109 is a K strain bacterium that carries multiple features including the ɸ80lacZ∆M15 marker, which provides α-complementation of the β-galactosidase gene with blue/white screening protocol as well as the hsdR17 genotype which prevents endogenous endonucleases from cleaving DNA.
Product Specifications
Competent cell type: Chemically competent
Derivative of: JM109
Species: E. coli
Format: Tubes
Transformation efficiency: ≥6 x 105 cfu/µg pUC19 DNA
Blue/white screening: Yes
Product Specifications
| Catalog ID | CC-114 |
|---|---|
| Storage/Handling | Store Competent Cells at -80°C. |
LBA4404 Agrobacterium Chemically Competent Cells
| Catalog ID | Size | Pricing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CC-107-5x50 | 5 x 50 μL | $ 189.00 | |
| CC-107-10x50 | 10 x 50 μL | $ 335.00 | |
| CC-107-15x50 | 15 x 50 μL | $ 449.00 |
Description
GoldBio’s LBA4404 Agrobacterium chemically competent cells allow you to obtain high transformation efficiency in applications such as gDNA or cDNA library construction. Our LBA4404 strain harbors a rifampicin resistance (rif) gene. Furthermore, LBA4404 has an octoprine-type Ti plasmid pAL4404 without self-transport function, containing the vir genes. Our LBA4404 strain can be used in genetic transformation of tomato, tobacco and other plants.
Product Specifications
Competent cell type: Chemical Competent
Species: A. tumefaciens
Strain: LBA4404
Transformation efficiency: ≥1 x 104 cfu/µg pCAMBIA1391z DNA
Blue/white screening: No
