DH5 alpha is a high efficiency transformation host. It easily uptakes and express the foreign plasmid. But, it has its own plasmid too. Could anyone let me know the features of it's plasmid !
It has recA, endA and LacZ Delta M15 mutations which confers it's specialized features. Where are these mutations made; in the genomic DNA or the plasmid?
I don't have any scientific literature to say that DH5Alpha has its own plasmids, but I got the info from https://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/DH5-Alpha_E.coli. Still, I am searching for literatures on it.
To the best of my knowledge, DH5 alpha does not have extrachromosomal DNA. All the features you have described are in the genomic DNA.
http://ecoliwiki.net/colipedia/index.php/DH5_alpha
Hi there,
As Jiri said: "no plasmid in DH5-alpha!" Apart from the one you introduce by transformation...
Dear all,
I don't have any scientific literature to say that DH5Alpha has its own plasmids, but I got the info from https://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/DH5-Alpha_E.coli. Still, I am searching for literatures on it.
It may be possible that the native plasmid of DH5Alpha lacks suitable marker and also doesn't interfere with the transformation process.
Hi there,
I think your source is wrong as it says "This strain also contains plasmids, and has the ability to accept plasmid insertion exceptionally well. " One should read :"This strain is able to home plasmids...".
As DH5alpha is used as host for plasmid amplification, I don't see the point in using a strain which already contains plasmids... As a result, any miniprep from this strain would be contaminated with endogenous plasmids... This would be a nightmare for molecular biologist! I've been working for years with this strain and never get anything else than expected plasmid from minipreps...
The genotype is :
F– Φ80lacZΔM15 Δ(lacZYA-argF) U169 recA1 endA1 hsdR17 (rK–, mK+) phoA supE44 λ– thi-1 gyrA96 relA1
There is nothing in there indicating the presence of any endogenous plasmid (which is systematically mentioned in genotype.
Very recently, I started working on gene expression. I am using DH5Alpha cells as host assuming it doesn't have endogenous plasmids. But, I was deviated by the information available on the link I mentioned. So, I thought that might be very poor copy number of endogenous plasmid doesn't interferes with foreign plasmid uptake.
Anyways, I am very thankful to you for making it clear.
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