Evaluation of the oestrogenic potential of oestrone and bisphenol-A on the reproduction of Astyanax bimaculatus males after subacute exposure

Fish Physiology and Biochemistry - In the last decades, oestrogenic compounds have often been reported in environmentally relevant concentrations in aquatic environments around the world. Most...     

An improved protocol for electrotransformation of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis

We developed an improved protocol for the electrotransformation of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, testing variations of parameters in the procedures that are routinely used for the preparation of electrocompetent cells of this species, including (i) culture conditions, (ii) cell growth phase, (iii) electroporation solutions and (iv) quantity of plasmid DNA. We obtained the greatest efficiency of transformation when the cells were grown until the stationary phase and then washed with 10% glycerol electroporation solution. The transformation efficiency was inversely proportional to the quantity of plasmid DNA. The transformation efficiency reached 10(5) colony-forming units (cfu)/mug plasmid DNA. This protocol would be useful for genetic studies of C. pseudotuberculosis.