The BactoZapper® version of the Cloning Gun® is a cordless, rechargeable, hand-held electroporation instrument that achieves Transformation Efficiencies (TE's) of over 1010 transformants per µg of input DNA with E. coli bacteria. The completely portable, hand-held design makes transformation a simple process. Just plug in one of our revolutionary disposable Pipectrode® pipetting electrode tips to The Cloning Gun. Draw your DNA mixture into the Pipectrode using the ergonomic precision thumbwheel-operated pump, pull the trigger to zap it, and eject your transformants into an Agar Plate - all in less than 15 seconds!
Unlike other systems, our Pipectrode® makes the time consuming process of transferring your DNA mixture back and forth with pipettes obsolete. When you compare the low cost of The BactoZapper and its Pipectrode chambers with the cost of conventional electroporators, cuvettes and chemically competent cells, the increased efficiency in terms of transformants per dollar is quite impressive. If you figure in time and convenience, especially in high-throughput experiments, the increased efficiency is truly remarkable. Finally, electroporation is the only way to go when working with high molecular weight plasmids (>18 kb).
Electroporation is a simple low-cost procedure for every scientist. Don't pay more for the antiquated technology offered by other manufacturers. You can use The BactoZapper right at your own bench, or for contamination-sensitive samples, take it to the sterile hood.
The BactoZapper® version of The Cloning Gun® revolutionizes E. coli transformation. The Cloning Gun comes factory pre-set to the optimal parameters for transformation. TE can be greater than 1010 per µg of input DNA for cells harvested in phase. Even with standard stationary phase cells, prepared using our revolutionary, super-easy cell prep featuring our CompBooster® Solution, overnight cultures can exceed 109per µg.
Key BactoZapper Features:
Pipectrodes cost less than cuvettes, yield a higher TE (due to reduced cytotoxicity of the thin stainless steel electrodes as compared with ionizing aluminum electrodes), yet are more environmentally friendly.
While sold as "disposable", Pipectrodes can be reused many more times than cumbersome cuvettes.
You don't need an oscilloscope to know that it is working - simple red, yellow, and green indicator lights let you know if your sample and DNA performed according to normal parameters.
At least ten times faster than any other electroporation device.
Ergonomic design.
Small and portable, cordless/rechargeable.
Use it at your own bench or in the sterile hood!
Much less expensive per transformation than commercially available competent cells.
100-fold higher transformation efficiency, with much faster sample prep as compared with home-made CaCl2 cells.
Only The BactoZapper® is optimized to work with the revolutionary Stationary Phase cell prep, developed at Tritech Research, which can yield over 2 x 109 transformants per µg using simple overnight cultures.
Comparison for 100 Transformations (>2 x 109/µg)**
Company
"Cuvettes"
Cells*
Supply Total
Time in batches of 5
BioRad
2 x $135
10 x $99
$1260
200 min.
BRL
3 x $70
10 x $150
$1710
300 min.
BTX
2 x $126
none available
$1800?
200 min.
Invitrogen
2 x $125
10 x $175
$1900
200 min.
Stratagene
2 x $135
10 x $135
$1620
200 min.
Strategene
"Ultra Comp."
10 x $145
$1450
700 min.
and a world apart...
Cloning Gun
2 x $75
5 x $50
$400
<17 min.
For a recent comparison of the Cloning Gun to other electroporators by The Scientist Magazine, click here for a copy of the article on our site, or here for The Scientist Website. FAQ's
Q: What is the advantage of the voltage adjustable version versus the standard preset version?
A: The degree of electroporation is the product of the electric field strength (voltage) across the cell and the time that it is applied. Based on the size and "toughness" of common laboratory E. coli strains, we were able to make a single-setting BactoZapper with no adjustments needed. For transforming other bacterial strains, various other voltages will give the optimal transformation efficiency. If you are transforming other bacteria other than E. Coli, we definitely recommend that you get the voltage-adjustable version so that you can try different settings to get a good transformation efficiency for your other species and cell-prep protocols.
†
These are our list prices. If you are paying with an Institutional
Purchase Order or by check, you qualify for a 7.5% discount. Click
here
to change your payment method and see the lower prices.
MammoZapper® Cloning Gun® Electroporation System
CG-2:
$1,832.43
†
The MammoZapper® version of The Cloning Gun® is a cordless, rechargeable, hand-held electroporation instrument that achieves transfection efficiencies exceeding 50% of viable cells with a variety of standard mammalian cell lines. The completely portable, hand-held design makes transformation a simple process. Just plug in one of our revolutionary disposable Pipectrode® pipetting electrode tips to The MammoZapper. Draw your cell/DNA mixture into the Pipectrode using the ergonomic precision thumbwheel-operated pump, pull the trigger to zap it, and eject your transformants into a flask - all in less than 15 seconds!
Unlike other systems, our Pipectrode makes the time consuming process of transferring your cell/DNA mixture back and forth with cuvettes and pipettes obsolete. When you compare the low cost of The MammoZapper and its Pipectrode chambers with the cost of conventional electroporators and cuvettes, and lipofection reagents, the increased efficiency in terms of transformants per dollar is quite impressive. If you figure in time and convenience, especially in high-throughput experiments, the increased efficiency is truly remarkable. Finally, electroporation is a simple low-cost procedure for every scientist. Don't pay more for the antiquated technology offered by other manufacturers. You can use The MammoZapper right at your own bench, or for contamination-sensitive samples, take it to the sterile hood. The MammoZapper® version of The Cloning Gun® uses a unique non-ionic, minimally-conductive, near isotonic electroporation medium and ultra-short pulse time increases both transfection efficiency and post-zap viability. We took the guess-work out of electrical parameters by doing the electroporation research here. The Cloning Gun voltage and time parameters have been optimized to give excellent results with mammalian cells including neurons, astrocytes, neuroglia, lymphocytes, monocytes, fibroblasts, epithelial and endothelial cells from human, mouse, rat and monkey (see below). Just ask us if we have tried it on your favorite cells, or get a gun and see for yourself (there is a 30-day money-back guarantee on all Tritech Research products). The thumbwheel pump and Pipectrode® electroporation chambers are so much more user friendly than cuvettes and transfer pipettes that we guarantee The MammoZapper is the most efficient and convenient electroporator you will ever have the pleasure of discharging.
Key MammoZapper Features:
Pipectrodes cost less than cuvettes, yield a higher TE (due to reduced cytotoxicity of the thin stainless steel electrodes as compared with ionizing aluminum electrodes), yet are more environmentally friendly.
While sold as "disposable", Pipectrodes can be reused many more times than cumbersome cuvettes.
You don't need an oscilloscope to know that it is working - simple red, yellow, and green indicator lights let you know if your sample and DNA performed according to normal parameters.
At least ten times faster than any other electroporation device.
Ergonomic design.
Small and portable, cordless/rechargeable.
Use it at your own bench or in the sterile hood!
Unlike other methods, electroporation only introduces your molecule of interest (not extra calcium, detergents, lipids, projectiles, or viral particles).
Extremely high transfection efficiency without complicated expensive viral- mediated protocols.
More reliable and generally applicable than CaPO4 co-precipitation.
Does not require costly lipid-based products.
HIGH EFFICIENCY OF TRANSFECTION
The Bar-Chart below shows transformation results with various cell types. Click on the graph bars to see actual pictures of the transformed cells.
For a recent comparison of the Cloning Gun to other electroporators by The Scientist Magazine, click here for a copy of the article on our site, or here for The Scientist Website.
FAQ's
Q: What kinds of cell lines can I use a MammoZapper electroporation device on?
A: The MammoZapper® is optimized for use with, but not limited to, mammalian cells. It can be used for a wide variety of cell lines and primary cells, provided that they can be suspended in media during electroporation. The Gun can also be used on yeast spheroplasts and other large cells without cell walls. The standard version works well with a wide variety of cells, but you are free to order the voltage adjustable version so that you can bracket the standard settings and optimize your transfection efficiency.
Q: What is the difference between the preset and voltage adjustable versions?
A: One has a fixed voltage pulse that we have found to be good for a wide variety of mammalian cell types. The other has a variable voltage that can be adjusted by the user from below to above the value preset on the fixed-voltage version. This allows the user to experiment and determine the optimal setting for their particular cell types.
Q: Can the MammoZapper also be used on amphibian cells?
A: We are not aware or any past customers using the MammoZapper for amphibian cells. However, it has been used successfully for non-mammalian animal cells, such as Drosophila S2 cells. Generally speaking, it can work on any type of cells and the only variables are cell size and cell toughness (for example extracellular matrix protecting the cells). Our recommendation is to get the voltage-adjustable version of the MammoZapper so that you can try different voltages and find an optimum value for your cells. You will want to use a lot of good quality DNA (5-10 micrograms) per sample and, if possible, harvest rapidly dividing cells for the procedure - because the added DNA usually gets into the nucleus during the first mitosis after electroporation.
†
These are our list prices. If you are paying with an Institutional
Purchase Order or by check, you qualify for a 7.5% discount. Click
here
to change your payment method and see the lower prices.
CompBooster® Solution (45ml)
CG-CB:
$54.05
†
CompBooster®Solution can be added to bacterial cultures to increase the transfection efficiency of cells prepared for electroporation by the BactoZapper® Cloning Gun®. It is a propietary formulation, but non-toxic. We will supply it free with any BactoZapper®purchase and free, upon request, with any Pipectrode® purchase.
†
These are our list prices. If you are paying with an Institutional
Purchase Order or by check, you qualify for a 7.5% discount. Click
here
to change your payment method and see the lower prices.
MammoZapper® Buffer (45ml)
CG-MZB:
$54.05
†
MammoZapper® Buffer can be used to suspend mammalian cell cultures to increase the transfection efficiency of some cell types prepared for electroporation by the MammoZapper® Cloning Gun®. It is a propietary formulation, but non-toxic. We will supply it free with any MammoZapper® purchase and free, upon request, with any Pipectrode® purchase.
†
These are our list prices. If you are paying with an Institutional
Purchase Order or by check, you qualify for a 7.5% discount. Click
here
to change your payment method and see the lower prices.
O-ring for Cloning Gun®
CG-O:
$10.81
†
- In Stock
This replacement O-ring can be installed in the Cloning Gun® Pipectrode® receptacle to reestablish a proper pressure seal in case the original O-ring gets damaged. Tritech Research recommends using the special "lubricating Pipectrode" that comes free with every Cloning gun after every few hundred uses to protect the O-ring and prevent the need for replacement.
†
These are our list prices. If you are paying with an Institutional
Purchase Order or by check, you qualify for a 7.5% discount. Click
here
to change your payment method and see the lower prices.
Pipectrode® Electroporation Chambers for BactoZapper® Cloning Gun® (50/pack)
CG-PP-1:
$139.46
†
- In Stock
The Pipectrode® represents a major technical advance to electroporation. The most important factors for highest transformation efficiency are low toxicity, temperature control of the sample during electroporation, and rapid recovery afterward.
Thin surgical stainless steel electrodes backed by water-ice temperature stabilizers provide a superior environment for cells during electroporation. We make use of the latent heat of fusion of water (it takes the same number of calories to melt 1g of ice as to heat 1g of water 80°C!), so your sample stays cool, which is important to avoid arcing. Since the Pipectrode is a pipette, you can eject your sample into recovery buffer instantly.
Comparison Costs for 100 Transformations (>2 x 109/µg)**
Company
Cuvettes
Cells*
Supply Total
Time in batches of 5
BioRad
2 x $135
10 x $99
$1260
200 min.
BRL
3 x $70
10 x $150
$1710
300 min.
BTX
2 x $126
none available
$1800?
200 min.
Invitrogen
2 x $125
10 x $175
$1900
200 min.
Stratagene
2 x $135
10 x $135
$1620
200 min.
Strategene
Ultra Comp.
10 x $145
$1450
700 min.
and a world apart...
Cloning Gun
2 x $75
5 x $50
$400
<17 min.
†
These are our list prices. If you are paying with an Institutional
Purchase Order or by check, you qualify for a 7.5% discount. Click
here
to change your payment method and see the lower prices.
Pipectrode® Electroporation Chambers for MammoZapper® Cloning Gun® (50/pack)
CG-PP-2:
$139.46
†
- In Stock
The Pipectrode® represents a major technical advance to electroporation. The most important factors for highest transformation efficiency are low toxicity, temperature control of the sample during electroporation, and rapid recovery afterward.
Thin surgical stainless steel electrodes backed by water-ice temperature stabilizers provide a superior environment for cells during electroporation. We make use of the latent heat of fusion of water (it takes the same number of calories to melt 1g of ice as to heat 1g of water 80°C!), so your sample stays cool, which is important to avoid arcing. Since the Pipectrode is a pipette, you can eject your sample into recovery buffer instantly.
HIGH EFFICIENCY OF TRANSFECTION
The Bar-Chart below shows transformation results with various cell types. Click on the graph bars to see actual pictures of the transformed cells.
†
These are our list prices. If you are paying with an Institutional
Purchase Order or by check, you qualify for a 7.5% discount. Click
here
to change your payment method and see the lower prices.
