| 摘要 |
It can be difficult to achieve efficient transformation of many strains of bacterial cells due in part to the presence of one or more restriction and modification (R-M) systems in the cells that restricts unmodified transforming DNA. Phage T7 OCR protein is a potent inhibitor of Type I R-M systems. Methods are disclosed for improving transformation efficiency of Eubacterial and Archaebacterial cells having an R-M system by introducing into the cells an inhibitor of the restriction activity. For example, addition of 1-5 micrograms of T7 OCR protein to 50 microliters of electrocompetent cells having a Type I R-M system prior to electroporation significantly increased transformation efficiency by unmodified plasmids, fosmid clones, and artificial transposons comprising synaptic complexes. Other inhibitors or restriction activity, such as phage-encoded proteins and proteins encoded by conjugative plasmids, as well as other disclosed inhibitors, also can be used to improve transformation (and transposition) efficiency. Host cells with heritable improved transformation efficiency can be made by transforming a cell having an R-M system with an expressible gene which encodes an inhibitor of the restriction activity, which gene can be conditionally expressible. Transient expression of a gene on an unmodified transforming DNA can also be improved by in vivo inhibition of restriction in host cells having an R-M system. Kits and compositions for carrying out the methods of the invention and host cells made using the methods are also disclosed.
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