TRANSFORMATION OF ZYMONONAS-MOBILIS BY ELECTROPORATION

Zymomonas mobilis is being considered for the industrial production of ethyl alcohol. Expansion of its substrate range of glucose, fructose and sucrose could be advantageous, but genetic manipulation of Z. mobi lis is restricted as it is resistant to transformation. We present a p rotocol using electroporation for high efficiency transformation of th is bacterium. Optimal parameters included cooled cells (0-4-degrees-C) , use of 10% glycerol as an osmotic support medium, a pulse in the 12 kV/cm range for 10 ms and outgrowth on GYx medium prior to selection. The routine efficiency achieved was greater than 1.0 x 10(7)/mug DNA, a major increase over other transformation methods in which yields ran ged from 100-2000/mug DNA.