Enhancing Yeast Transformation: Achieving a 10-Fold Increase through a
Single Adjustment in the Lithium Acetate-Polyethylene Glycol Method
Abstract
The Lithium-PEG method to transform yeast cells is a common experiment
used by most yeast laboratories. After several optimizations, this
method can yield up to 10 6 transformants / µg of
plasmid. Some experiments such as library screening or complex
transformation require to maximize transformation yield. Here we show
that the addition of a 2M sorbitol solution acts as an osmo-protectant
during and after heat shock and increases ten-fold the transformation
rate. This optimization requires only one additional pipetting step
compared to the initial protocol, and is therefore practical for a daily
use.