Introduction:

The high salt concentrations present in ligation mixes are known to reduce electroporation transformation efficiency. Recommendations to reduce salt concentration prior to electroporation include float dialysis, centrifugal ultrafiltration, and dilution. Each of these are either time consuming, not completely effective (reducing the transformation efficiency), or worse, result in significant DNA loss.

A Centri-Spin 20 protocol for desalting ligation reactions eliminates salts and co-factors while recovering >85% of the DNA. Electroporation transformation efficiencies are increased 2-fold.