Zymo Reagents

<h2 data-section-id="k59sk3" data-start="0" data-end="52">What are transformation kits and competent cells?</h2>
&nbsp;
Transformation kits and competent cells consist of E. coli strains prepared to take up exogenous plasmid DNA, either through chemical competence (calcium chloride treatment, transformed via heat shock) or electrocompetence (transformed via electroporation), along with associated transformation buffers and protocols. Related entities include transformation efficiency (transformants per microgram), heat-shock and electroporation methods, strain genotype (recA, endA deficiency for plasmid stability), and downstream plasmid recovery for sequencing or transfection.
&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">What you will find:</h2>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Mix &amp; Go! Transformation Kits, rapid protocols for preparation of competent E. coli in&nbsp;</li>
<li>ProClone&trade; Competent Cells with optimized E. coli strains for cloning and library generation.</li>
<li>Specialized Competent E. coli Strains ready-made JM109, DH5 Alpha, and Zymo 10B cells for regular and complex assembly.</li>
<li>Autolysis Competent Cells: designed for simplified cell lysis and streamlined protein expression using XJa and XJb strains</li>
<li>Frozen-EZ Yeast Transformation Kits for genetic manipulation of yeast strains.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<h2 data-section-id="1ld88i5" data-start="812" data-end="876">How to choose transformation kits and competent cell products</h2>
&nbsp;
Chemically competent vs. electrocompetent cells
Chemically competent cells use a heat-shock protocol and are generally easier to handle for routine cloning, while electrocompetent cells require an electroporator but can achieve higher transformation efficiency for large plasmids, low-copy constructs, or DNA with modifications that reduce chemical transformation efficiency.
General cloning strains vs. protein expression strains
General cloning strains are selected for high transformation efficiency and genetic features (such as recA and endA deficiency) that improve plasmid stability and quality for downstream sequencing, while protein expression strains carry features supporting recombinant protein production, such as T7 RNA polymerase expression for IPTG-inducible systems; using a cloning strain for protein expression (or vice versa) generally gives suboptimal results.
Transformation efficiency requirements
Routine cloning of standard-sized plasmids works well with competent cells rated at 10^6&ndash;10^8 transformants per microgram, while ligation reactions with very low DNA concentrations (such as multi-fragment seamless assembly products) may benefit from higher-efficiency cells rated above 10^8 transformants per microgram.
Transformation kits may include a positive control plasmid and competent cells for validating transformation efficiency before using precious experimental DNA; this is particularly useful when troubleshooting low transformation yields to distinguish competent cell quality issues from ligation or assembly reaction issues.
&nbsp;
<h2 data-section-id="1fljvas" data-start="3947" data-end="3972">Specifications context</h2>
&nbsp;
Competent cell transformation efficiency is reported in transformants per microgram of standard control plasmid DNA, with general cloning strains commonly rated at 10^6&ndash;10^8 and high-efficiency formulations exceeding 10^8 transformants per microgram. Cells are typically supplied as frozen aliquots (e.g., 50&ndash;100 microliters per tube) for single-use transformations, shipped on dry ice and stored at -80&deg;C, with repeated freeze-thaw substantially reducing efficiency.&nbsp;
This sub-category is part of MBP's cloning catalog alongside ligation independent cloning kits and chemicals/reagents, the upstream steps of a cloning workflow. Labs producing custom lentivirus for immortalization can also review MBP's cell immortalization catalog. MBP's specialist team can help confirm strain genotype and transformation efficiency requirements for a specific cloning or expression project before order placement.
<a href="https://mbpinc.net/contact-us">Contact the expert team</a> at MBP today and get high-quality transformation kits and competent cells for your lab.

Transformation Kits & Competetent Cells

MSDS

DataSheet

Protocol

Mix & Go! Competent Cells - JM109

T3003 by Zymo Research is the Mix &amp; Go! Competent Cells - JM109, chemically competent E. coli cells for plasmid transformation without heat shock. Transformation complete in 20 seconds; efficiency 10⁸–10⁹ transformants/µg (pUC19). Supplied as 10 × 100 µl tubes; supports blue-white screening and plasmids up to 10 kb. Store at -70°C to -80°C.

Additional Info

Genotype

Processing Time

Product Storage

Transformation Efficiency

Manufacturer

Shipping Condition

Storage Condition

Mix & Go! Competent Cells - JM109 (10 x 100 µl)

Mix & Go! Competent Cells - JM109 (96 x 50 µl)

Mix & Go! Competent Cells - TG1 (10 x 100 µl)

Mix &amp; Go! Competent Cells TG1 T3017 by Zymo Research are ready-to-use chemically competent E. coli cells (10 × 100 µL) with 10⁸–10⁹ transformants/µg, requiring no heat shock. TG1 strain supports blue-white screening (lacZ M15) and plasmids up to 10 kb. Storage at –70°C to –80°C.

Mix & Go! Competent Cells - XJa Autolysis (10 x 100 µl)

Mix &amp; Go! Competent Cells — XJa Autolysis (T3021) by Zymo Research. 10 × 100 µl. Transformation efficiency 108–109 cfu/µg. Built-in autolysis: 80–90% cell lysis in 10 min. No heat shock required.

Autolysis

DNA Extraction

DNA Stability

Protein Expression

Mix & Go! Competent Cells - XJa(DE3) Autolysis (10 x 100 µl)

T3031 Mix &amp; Go! Competent Cells — XJa(DE3) Autolysis by Zymo Research provides 10 × 100 µl aliquots of E. coli with 10⁸–9⁹ CFU/µg transformation efficiency and L-Arabinose-triggered λ endolysin autolysis for simplified protein expression and purification. Includes 1 ml 500× L-Arabinose; stored at -70°C to -80°C. MBP is a registered vendor for Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Vanderbilt University, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and many more leading research institutes, serving labs across the United States, Canada, and internationally.

Mix & Go! Competent Cells - XJb Autolysis (10 x 100 µl)

T3041 by Zymo Research is the Mix &amp; Go! XJb Autolysis Competent Cells — an E. coli expression strain achieving 108–109 transformants/µg and 80–90% autolytic lysis within 10 minutes via L-Arabinose induction. Lon-/OmpT- for improved protein yields. Supplied as 10 × 100 µl with 1 ml 500× L-Arabinose. Store at -70°C to -80°C.

Cell Growth

Mix & Go! Competent Cells - XJb(DE3) Autolysis (10 x 100 µl)

Mix &amp; Go! Competent Cells - XJb(DE3) Autolysis (T3051) by Zymo Research — 10 × 100 µl. 108–109 transformants/µg; no heat shock. L-arabinose-induced autolysis: 80–90% cell lysis in ~10 min by freeze-thaw. DE3 lysogen for T7 expression. Lon-/OmpT- protease-deficient. Includes 500× L-arabinose. Storage −70°C to −80°C.

Mix & Go! Competent Cells - Zymo 10B

Mix &amp; Go! Competent Cells - Zymo 10B by Zymo Research — &gt;108 transformants/µg pUC19 without heat shock. Available as T3019 (10 × 100 µl) or T3020 (96 × 50 µl, 12 × 8-Tube Strips). Storage &lt;−70°C; 6-month integrity guarantee. Genotype: F- mcrA Δ(mrr-hsdRMS-mcrBC) Φ80lacZΔM15 ΔlacX74 recA1 endA1 araD139 Δ(ara leu) 7697 galU galK rpsL nupG λ-.

Mix & Go! Competent Cells - Zymo 10B (10 x 100 µl)

Mix & Go! Competent Cells - Zymo 10B (96 x 50 µl)

<h2 data-section-id="v1drft" data-start="0" data-end="43">What are cloning chemicals and reagents?</h2>
&nbsp;
Cloning chemicals and reagents cover the enzymes, buffers, and molecular biology-grade chemicals used in DNA fragment preparation, modification, and purification within a cloning workflow, including restriction endonucleases, T4 DNA ligase and other DNA-modifying enzymes (phosphatases, polymerases), reaction buffers, and plasmid extraction reagents. Related entities include restriction enzyme digestion, DNA dephosphorylation/phosphorylation, plasmid DNA purification (column-based and magnetic bead-based), and enzyme unit definitions.
&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">What you will find:</h2>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" role="presentation">Targeted XJa and XJb strains for faster recovery of proteins.</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" role="presentation">Mix &amp; Go! solutions for optimized and dependable bacterial transformation.</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" role="presentation">Culture Media &amp; Supplements used for yeast research, and include YPD Plus and mating pheromones.</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" role="presentation">Extraction and Lysis Reagents include reliable genomic preparation and yeast protein kits.</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" role="presentation">Chromogenic Substrates and Enzymatic Inducers with highly pure X-GAL and IPTG for cloning and blue-white screening.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<h2 data-section-id="1daajgc" data-start="866" data-end="913">How to choose cloning chemicals and reagents</h2>
&nbsp;
Restriction enzyme selection and buffer compatibility
Restriction enzymes require specific reaction buffers, and many modern enzyme lines use a single universal buffer compatible across multiple enzymes to simplify double-digest reactions; confirm buffer compatibility when combining enzymes from different suppliers or using older single-buffer-per-enzyme formulations.
Enzyme unit definitions and reaction scale
Restriction enzyme and ligase activity is defined in units per microliter, with one unit typically defined as the amount needed to digest or ligate a defined quantity of standard substrate DNA under specified conditions in a set time; scale enzyme quantity to the amount of DNA being processed rather than assuming a fixed volume works for all reaction sizes.
Plasmid purification grade
Plasmid DNA extraction reagents range from molecular biology grade, suitable for general cloning and sequencing, to transfection-grade or endotoxin-free formulations required for applications such as lentiviral packaging or mammalian cell transfection, where endotoxin contamination can reduce transfection efficiency or cause cell stress.
Dephosphorylation for preventing vector self-ligation
Alkaline phosphatase treatment of a linearized vector before ligation removes 5' phosphate groups, preventing vector self-ligation and improving the ratio of recombinant clones; this step is particularly useful when the vector and insert share compatible sticky ends that could otherwise religate without insert incorporation.
&nbsp;
<h2 data-section-id="1fljvas" data-start="3459" data-end="3484">Specifications context</h2>
&nbsp;
Restriction enzymes and ligases are supplied at defined unit concentrations (commonly 10&ndash;20 units per microliter for restriction enzymes), with reaction buffers formulated for specific pH and salt conditions optimized for enzyme activity. Plasmid purification kits are differentiated by yield (micrograms of DNA recovered), purity (A260/A280 ratio), and endotoxin level (endotoxin units per microgram), with endotoxin-free kits specifying levels below a defined threshold suitable for transfection applications.&nbsp;
This sub-category is part of MBP's cloning catalog alongside ligation independent cloning kits and transformation kits and competent cells, used downstream of enzyme-based fragment preparation. Labs producing custom lentivirus for immortalization can also review MBP's cell immortalization catalog. MBP's specialist team can help confirm enzyme buffer compatibility and plasmid purification grade for a specific downstream application before order placement.
<a href="https://mbpinc.net/contact-us">Contact the expert team </a>at MBP today to request a quote for high-purity chemicals and reagents.

Chemicals/Reagents

Mix & Go! Dilution Buffer

Mix & Go! Dilution Buffer by Zymo Research is used to dilute 2X concentrated buffers to 1X working concentration in the Mix & Go! E. coli Transformation System (T3001/T3002 kits). Available in 20 ml and 60 ml formats, stored at 0–8°C, it ensures optimal conditions for high-efficiency chemical transformation of E. coli.

Mix & Go! Dilution Buffer (20 ml)

Mix & Go! Dilution Buffer (60 ml)

Mix & Go! E. coli Transformation Kit (up to 20 ml)

Mix &amp; Go! E. coli Transformation Kit T3001 by Zymo Research enables preparation of up to 20 mL of competent cells with 10⁸–10⁹ transformants/µg pUC19 and no heat shock required. Compatible with DH5α, BL21, JM109, TG1, and XL10 Gold. Competent cell preparation completes in ~1–2 hours.

Compatible Strains

Mix & Go! E.coli Transformation Buffer Set (up to 60 ml)

<h2>What are methylation standards?</h2>
&nbsp;
Methylation standards are defined reference DNA materials with a known and confirmed methylation status, ranging from a fully methylated DNA (where every cytosine at CpG or other sites carries a methyl group) to a fully unmethylated DNA (where no cytosines are methylated) and intermediate or mixed standards containing a defined ratio of the two. The most widely used unmethylated control in bisulfite sequencing is lambda phage DNA, which is naturally unmethylated and can be spiked into a conversion reaction to estimate conversion efficiency.
&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">What you will find:</h2>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Methylated and non-methylated DNA control sets for comparative epigenetic analysis and assay validation</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Universal methylated DNA standards for methylation assessment workflows</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Genomic DNA reference materials: for microbial and human methylation studies</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Matched DNA sets: used in experimental models for controlled comparison of methylation status&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Bisulfite-converted DNA standards: for downstream sequencing-based methylation and PCR analysis</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Methylation spike-in controls: for sequencing normalization and high-throughput workflows</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Mouse and human DNA methylation reference sets: for specific species epigenetic studies</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Methylated DNA IP control kits for methylation assays involving immunoprecipitation</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<h2>How to use methylation standards</h2>
&nbsp;
Spike an unmethylated control into every bisulfite or enzymatic conversion reaction
Running an unmethylated DNA like lambda phage DNA alongside your samples in the same conversion reaction estimates the conversion efficiency of that specific run, since every remaining cytosine signal after conversion should be treated as a false positive, and this rate can be quantified and accounted for in downstream analysis.
Run a fully methylated positive control to confirm methylated cytosines are preserved
A fully methylated standard, such as DNA synthesized with 5-methyl-dCTP or commercially prepared methylated genomic DNA, confirms your conversion workflow correctly preserves methylated cytosines intact rather than inadvertently converting them, which would produce false-negative methylation calls.
Use a mixed or intermediate standard to calibrate quantitative methylation assays
A standard containing a defined ratio of methylated to unmethylated DNA, or a set of standards spanning a range of methylation percentages, provides a calibration curve for quantitative methylation assays like 5-methylcytosine ELISA, validating that the assay reports the expected methylation level across its full dynamic range.
Confirm standard stability before long-term storage or lot-to-lot use
Methylation control DNA has documented stability windows, and confirming that your standard's methylation status is stable under storage conditions, and consistent across lots, is necessary for reliable longitudinal monitoring of conversion efficiency.
Use standards to monitor workflow consistency over time
Running a conversion control in every batch allows longitudinal tracking of conversion efficiency across instrument runs, reagent lots, and protocol variations, helping catch workflow drift before it affects real sample results.
&nbsp;
<h2>Specifications context</h2>
&nbsp;
Lambda phage DNA is the most commonly used unmethylated bisulfite conversion control because it is naturally unmethylated, commercially available, and well characterized, and it can be aligned to the known lambda phage reference genome after sequencing to calculate residual unconverted cytosine rates, providing a direct, interpretable measure of conversion efficiency. As of 2026, fully methylated and fully unmethylated standard sets are also used alongside enzymatic methyl-seq conversions to confirm that EM-seq's enzymatic mechanism correctly protects methylated cytosines and converts unmethylated ones, independent of the conversion chemistry used.
This category sits within DNA/RNA Methylation, alongside Bisulfite Conversion Kits, Non-Bisulfite Kits &amp; Reagents, and ELISA Kits &amp; Reagents. See the full reagents catalog and use Quick Order for recurring orders.
<a href="https://mbpinc.net/contact-us">Contact the expert team of Molecular Biology Products Inc. (MBP)</a> to get high-quality methylation standards for your lab today.

Methylation Standards

Mouse 5-hmC & 5-mC DNA Set

Mouse 5-hmC & 5-mC DNA Set (D5019) by Zymo Research — four organ-specific genomic DNAs (brain, kidney, liver, thymus) at 250 ng/µl, 5 µg per organ, with LC/MS-verified 5-hmC and 5-mC levels for epigenetic assay validation.

Concentration

Sample Source

Sample Storage

Mouse Brain DNA (5 µg)

Mouse Kidney DNA (5 µg)

Mouse Liver DNA (5 µg)

Mouse Thymus DNA (5 µg)

Devices & Instruments

Neoprene Stopper (1 Pack)

Neoprene Stopper (S7002) by Zymo Research — replacement sealing component for the EZ-Vac Vacuum Manifold (Cat# S7000). Sold as 1 Pack.

<h2>What are plasmid miniprep kits?</h2>
&nbsp;
A plasmid miniprep kit uses SDS/alkaline lysis to break open pelleted E. coli cells from a small culture volume (1-10 ml), followed by binding to a silica-membrane spin column, washing, and elution, separating plasmid DNA from genomic DNA, RNA, and protein in roughly 10-15 minutes per prep. Related entities include Buffer P1/P2/P3-style alkaline lysis reagents, color-coded lysis dyes for visual confirmation of complete lysis and neutralization, RNase A for RNA removal, and downstream applications including transformation, restriction digestion, PCR, and sequencing. Choose a miniprep kit for routine, low-volume plasmid prep (cloning screens, sequencing checks, restriction digests) where yields up to roughly 20-100 ug per column are sufficient.
&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">What you will find:</h2>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" role="presentation">Pellet-free and classic plasmid miniprep kits for high-yield bacterial isolation using rapid spin-column workflows</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" role="presentation">High-throughput 96-well plasmid plates optimized for vacuum manifold processing and parallel automated screening&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" role="presentation">Specialized yeast plasmid miniprep systems for fragile fungal hosts using cell-wall digesting chemistries</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" role="presentation">BAC/PAC and large construct isolation units for safer purification of high-molecular-weight vectors</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" role="presentation">Endotoxin-free plasmid extraction reagents for sensitive mammalian cell lines, ensuring transfection-grade DNA purity&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<h2>How to choose a plasmid miniprep kit</h2>
&nbsp;
Standard vs. high-yield chemistry
Standard silica spin-column minipreps typically recover up to about 20 ug per column, while high-yield formulations using modified alkaline lysis and novel binding chemistry can reach up to 100 ug at concentrations up to 3 ug/ul from the same small culture volume. If your downstream application (e.g., sequencing multiple samples from one prep, or transfection requiring more DNA per prep) benefits from a higher concentration, a high-yield kit reduces the need to scale up to midiprep.
Plasmid copy number and culture volume planning
High-copy plasmids (pUC-based vectors) can saturate a miniprep column from as little as 3 ml of culture, yielding around 20 ug, while low-copy plasmids (pBR322, pET, cosmids) may yield under 2 ug from the same volume and benefit from doubling culture volume to 5-10 ml. Identify your vector's origin of replication before choosing a standard culture volume, since low-copy vectors at standard volumes can produce yields too low for some downstream steps.
Color-coded lysis buffers for visual QC
Some miniprep kits include color-coded lysis and neutralization buffers that allow visual confirmation of complete cell lysis (color change) and proper neutralization before loading the column, helping catch incomplete-lysis failures before they waste a column. This visual QC step is particularly useful for new users or when troubleshooting inconsistent yields across a batch of preps.
Endotoxin-free and large-construct options
For transfection-sensitive downstream applications, endotoxin-free miniprep kits add a dedicated wash step without significantly extending the protocol time; for large plasmids, cosmids, or BAC/YAC/PAC constructs, some miniprep kits are validated up to approximately 200 kb, while standard kits are optimized for constructs up to roughly 25 kb. Confirm both endotoxin status and size compatibility match your specific construct and downstream use before relying on a standard miniprep.
&nbsp;
<h2>Specifications context</h2>
&nbsp;
The key specs for plasmid miniprep selection are expected yield relative to your plasmid's copy number and culture volume, whether color-coded buffers aid visual QC, and whether endotoxin-free or large-construct compatibility is needed for your downstream application. A standard miniprep yielding up to roughly 20-25 ug in 10-15 minutes from 1-10 ml of culture covers most routine cloning workflows, while high-yield kits up to 100 ug reduce the need to scale up for moderately DNA-hungry applications. Labs running both daily cloning screens and occasional larger-scale prep work typically keep <a href="https://mbpinc.net/reagents/molecular-biology/nucleic-acid-extraction-kits/plasmid-dna-extraction-kits/miniprep-kits">miniprep kits</a>&nbsp;on hand alongside&nbsp;<a href="https://mbpinc.net/reagents/molecular-biology/nucleic-acid-extraction-kits/plasmid-dna-extraction-kits/midiprep-kits">midiprep kits</a>&nbsp;for when miniprep yields aren't sufficient. The parent&nbsp;<a href="https://mbpinc.net/reagents/molecular-biology/nucleic-acid-extraction-kits/plasmid-dna-extraction-kits">plasmid DNA extraction kits category</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://mbpinc.net/reagents/molecular-biology/nucleic-acid-extraction-kits/plasmid-dna-extraction-kits/maxiprep-kits">maxiprep kits</a>&nbsp;cover larger-scale options, while the broader&nbsp;<a href="https://mbpinc.net/reagents/molecular-biology/nucleic-acid-extraction-kits">nucleic acid extraction kits hub</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://mbpinc.net/reagents/molecular-biology/nucleic-acid-extraction-kits/dna-extraction-kits/genomic-dna">genomic DNA extraction kits category</a> link to chromosomal DNA workflows.&nbsp;
<section class="mbp-contact-cta">
&nbsp;
MBP's specialist team can help match kit chemistry, format, and throughput to your sample type and downstream application.&nbsp;<a href="https://mbpinc.net/contact-us">Contact the MBP team</a> for personalized guidance.
</section>

Miniprep Kits

Neutralization Buffer (Yellow)

D4036-2-100 by Zymo Research is a 100 ml Neutralization Buffer (Yellow) for the alkaline lysis neutralization step in Zyppy Plasmid Miniprep Kit workflows (D4019/D4036/D4020/D4037). The yellow color provides visual confirmation of complete neutralization; the clear lysate is then loaded directly onto the column without centrifugation. Sold as a standalone refill; stored at room temperature.