Apr 30, 2026

Electroporation using BioRad MicroPulser

DOI
https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.3byl4pn52lo5/v1
  • Jonathan Miller1,
  • Jaleel Heath1
  • 1Boston University
  • EC552_John_Jaleel_Workflow
Jonathan Miller
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DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.3byl4pn52lo5/v1
Protocol Citation: Jonathan Miller, Jaleel Heath 2026. Electroporation using BioRad MicroPulser. protocols.io https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.3byl4pn52lo5/v1
License: This is an open access  protocol  distributed under the terms of the  Creative Commons Attribution License,  which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
Protocol status: Working
We use this protocol and it's working
Created: April 28, 2026
Last Modified: April 30, 2026
Protocol  Integer ID: 315889
Keywords: electroporation, transformation, bacterial cells, BioRad MicroPulser, DNA uptake, using biorad micropulser, biorad micropulser, biorad micropulser this protocol, electroporation, bacterial cell, cells through an electrical pulse, biorad documentation, dna, electrical pulse, cell
Abstract
This protocol describes electroporation of completed bacterial cells using the BioRad MicroPulser. DNA is introduced into cells through an electrical pulse, enabling transformation. The portal is adapted from BioRad documentation and cross referenced with DAMP Lab Canvas workflows.
Electroporation Protocol
Prepare electrocompetent bacterial cells and keep them on ice.
Add 1–2 µL of plasmid DNA to ~50 µL of competent cells. Gently mix.
Transfer the mixture into a pre-chilled electroporation cuvette (0.1 cm gap).
Insert the cuvette into the BioRad MicroPulser.
Apply the electrical pulse using the appropriate preset (e.g., Ec1 for E. coli).
Immediately add 950 µL of SOC or LB recovery media to the cuvette.
Transfer the cells to a sterile culture tube.
Incubate at 37°C with shaking for 1 hour.
Plate cells onto selective agar plates.
Incubate plates overnight at 37°C.
Protocol references
Bio-Rad Laboratories. MicroPulser Electroporation Apparatus Instruction Manual. https://www.bio-rad.com/
Dower, W. J., Miller, J. F., & Ragsdale, C. W. (1988). High efficiency transformation of E. coli by high voltage electroporation. Nucleic Acids Research, 16(13), 6127–6145.
Addgene. Bacterial Transformation Protocol (Electroporation). https://www.addgene.org/protocols/electroporation/