Calcium Chloride Transformation
Encyclopedia
Calcium chloride transformation is a laboratory technique in prokaryotic (bacterial) cell biology
. It increases the ability of a prokaryotic cell
to incorporate plasmid DNA
allowing them to be genetically transformed
. The addition of calcium chloride
to a cell suspension promotes the binding of plasmid
DNA
to LPS
. Positively charged calcium
ions attract both the negatively charged DNA
backbone and the negatively charged groups in the LPS
inner core. The plasmid
DNA
can then pass into the cell upon heat shock
, where cells are cooled to a low temperature (+4 degrees Celsius) and then heated to a high temperature (+42 degrees Celsius) for a short time.
Cell biology
Cell biology is a scientific discipline that studies cells – their physiological properties, their structure, the organelles they contain, interactions with their environment, their life cycle, division and death. This is done both on a microscopic and molecular level...
. It increases the ability of a prokaryotic cell
Cell (biology)
The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all known living organisms. It is the smallest unit of life that is classified as a living thing, and is often called the building block of life. The Alberts text discusses how the "cellular building blocks" move to shape developing embryos....
to incorporate plasmid DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
allowing them to be genetically transformed
Transformation (genetics)
In molecular biology transformation is the genetic alteration of a cell resulting from the direct uptake, incorporation and expression of exogenous genetic material from its surroundings and taken up through the cell membrane. Transformation occurs naturally in some species of bacteria, but it can...
. The addition of calcium chloride
Calcium chloride
Calcium chloride, CaCl2, is a salt of calcium and chlorine. It behaves as a typical ionic halide, and is solid at room temperature. Common applications include brine for refrigeration plants, ice and dust control on roads, and desiccation...
to a cell suspension promotes the binding of plasmid
Plasmid
In microbiology and genetics, a plasmid is a DNA molecule that is separate from, and can replicate independently of, the chromosomal DNA. They are double-stranded and, in many cases, circular...
DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
to LPS
LPS
LPS can stand for more than one thing:* Lipopolysaccharide * Liters per second* Low Pressure Sodium vapor lamps* Leases per second, a speed measure for DHCP servers* Leica Photogrammetry Suite, official name was changed to "LPS" in 2008...
. Positively charged calcium
Calcium
Calcium is the chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. It has an atomic mass of 40.078 amu. Calcium is a soft gray alkaline earth metal, and is the fifth-most-abundant element by mass in the Earth's crust...
ions attract both the negatively charged DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
backbone and the negatively charged groups in the LPS
LPS
LPS can stand for more than one thing:* Lipopolysaccharide * Liters per second* Low Pressure Sodium vapor lamps* Leases per second, a speed measure for DHCP servers* Leica Photogrammetry Suite, official name was changed to "LPS" in 2008...
inner core. The plasmid
Plasmid
In microbiology and genetics, a plasmid is a DNA molecule that is separate from, and can replicate independently of, the chromosomal DNA. They are double-stranded and, in many cases, circular...
DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
can then pass into the cell upon heat shock
Heat shock
In biochemistry, heat shock is the effect of subjecting a cell to a higher temperature than that of the ideal body temperature of the organism from which the cell line was derived.-Heat shock response:...
, where cells are cooled to a low temperature (+4 degrees Celsius) and then heated to a high temperature (+42 degrees Celsius) for a short time.