Plasmid (pUC series) containing genomic DNA fragments are maintained in E. coli strain DH5aTM. The E. coli cultures are routinely cultured at 37 C on Luria-Bertani (LB) agar on or in LB broth containing Ampicillin (30 µg/ml) or Carbenicillin (50 µg/ml broth, 100 µg/ml agar). E. coli strains are usually preserved in stab agar or glycerol for mid-term storage and lyophilized for long-term storage. - [Read Maintenance of Probes in Bacteria Including Escherichia coli Protocol]
This protocol describes the electroporation of the BMH 81-17 mut S strain that is recommended for tranformation of the site directed mutagenesis of dsDNA (See Protocol on Site-Directed Mutagenesis on Double Stranded DNA). BMH 81-17 mut S are a mismatch repair defective (mut S) Escherichia coli strain. The probability that the two mutations will cosegregate during the first round of DNA replication is increased in this strain.