Sensitivity of Escherichia coli to viral nucleic acid, X. Ba2+-induced competence for transfecting DNA.

Effect of alkaline earth metal ions on induction of the competence for DNA transfection was investigated. Unlike spheroplasts, the bulk of the bacteria treated with these ions retains colony-forming ability. The order of effectiveness for transfection of phiA replicative-form DNA has been found to be Ba2+ greater than Ca2+ greater than Sr2+ greater than Mg2+. The competence of Ba2+-treated cells is 3 to 5 times higher that that of Ca2+-treated bacteria and about 40 times higher than that of lysozyme-EDTA spheroplasts. The Ba2+-dependent transfection is cryophilic and formation of the infective complex occurs very rapidly at 0 degrees C, But not at 37 degrees C.