Transformation of Thermus Species by Natural Competence

Abstract

Many Thermus species harbour genomes scourged with horizontally transferred signatures. Thermus thermophilus (Tth) has been characterized as naturally competent. The transformation protocol described here is based on the maximum DNA uptake rates registered at mid-exponential phase (OD600 0.3-0.4). Here we describe the stepwise protocol followed for transformation of both plasmids and linearized genomic DNA, of which the latter can be employed as an alternative method to electroporation to introduce mutations or to generate gene deletions in Thermus isolates, for instance.