Bacteriology 0 Views 1 Answers
What does calcium chloride do in bacterial transformation?
What does calcium chloride do in bacterial transformation?
Answered
Calcium chloride plays a key role in the chemical transformation of bacteria by making the cell membrane more permeable to DNA. The positively charged calcium ions neutralize the negatively charged phosphates on the bacterial membrane and DNA, reducing electrostatic repulsion. This facilitates the attachment of DNA to the cell surface and its subsequent entry during heat shock. The treatment enhances the efficiency of DNA uptake by the bacterial cells.
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