Expression Technologies Inc.

Bacterial E.coli Growth Media
LB, SOB, SOC, 2x YT, TB (Terrific Broth), SB (Super Broth), and high density growth media

Product list of bacterial E.coli growth media

Commonly used bacterial E.coli growth media

High density bacterial E.coli growth media

Applications of common media >... | special media >...

Commonly used bacterial E.coli growth media
LB, SOB, SOC, 2x YT, Terrific Broth (TB), and Super Broth (SB)

Applications of common bacterial growth media

More information of common bacterial growth media...>

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Bacterial E.coli growth media: LB Miller broth/LB Lennox broth

LB broth is the most commonly used medium in molecular biology for E.coli cell culture. Easy to make, fast growth rate of most E.coli strains, readily available and simple compositions contribute the popularity of LB broth. LB broth contains the enzymatic digestion product of casein commonly known as peptone (some vendors term it Tryptone), yeast extract, and sodium chloride. Peptone is rich in amino acids and peptides. Its amino acid and peptide compositions reflect those of casein. In addition to amino acids and peptides, yeast extract also contains nucleic acids, lipids and other nutrients which are needed for bacterial growth. LB can support E.coli growth OD600 2 to 3 under normal shaking incubation condition (250 rpm). The LB Miller Broth and LB Lennox Broth contain higher and lower sodium chloride levels respectively. There are minimal differences between the two formulations in most molecular biology studies with commonly used E.coli strains. Different bacteria strains may require different salt concentrations. The low salt formula is more often used in salt-sensitive antibiotic selections.

Our LB broth is best priced in the industry at 12 bottle packages.

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High salt LB broth/LB medium: LB Miller Broth
1% peptone, 0.5% yeast extract, and 1% NaCl

Product literatures of bacterial E.coli growth medium high salt LB Broth/LB medium

Technical sheet | MSDS

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Low salt LB broth/LB medium: LB Lennox Broth
1% peptone, 0.5% yeast extract, and 0.5% NaCl

Product literatures of bacterial E.coli growth medium low salt LB Broth/LB medium

Technical sheet | MSDS

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Bacterial E.coli growth medium SOB
2% peptone, 0.5% Yeast extract, 10mM NaCl, 2.5mM KCl, 10mM MgCl₂ , 10mM MgSO₄

SOB is another commonly used rich media. It has twice as much peptone compared to LB. It is richer in amino acids and peptides. In addition, it contains magnesium Mg2+ which is required for high density cell growth. SOB can support E.coli growth to OD600 3 to 5 under normal shake flask conditions (250 rpm). It can support cell density to OD600 10 to 15 with increased aeration (350 rpm). E.coli cells growing in SOB will have higher transformation efficiency than those in a LB medium. SOB is commonly used to make high efficiency competent cells.

Product literatures of bacterial E.coli growth medium SOB

Technical sheet | MSDS

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Bacterial E.coli growth medium SOC
2% peptone, 0.5% Yeast extract, 10mM NaCl, 2.5mM KCl, 10mM MgCl₂ , 10mM MgSO₄, 20 mM Glucose

SOC is the same as SOB except it contains 20 mM glucose. Glucose serves as a catabolic repressor in SOC medium. E.coli cells prefer to use glucose as a carbon or energy source. In the presence of glucose, cellular machineries that use other sugars will be repressed. At a concentration of 20 mM or 0.36%, it provides sufficient transcription repression for lacI repressed promoters at low cell density. Expression of recombinant proteins that may adversely affect host cell physiology is repressed. As a result, transformation reactions using SOC to grow the cells for one hour will have higher efficiencies than those using LB. SOC is commonly used in incubation after heat shock in the transformation reaction. When SOC is not available, adding 20 mM glucose to LB or any other commonly used rich media will result in similar transformation efficiency as that can be obtained from using SOC.

Product literatures of bacterial E.coli growth medium SOC

Technical sheet | MSDS

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Bacterial E.coli growth medium 2x YT broth
1.6% peptone, 1% yeast extract, and 0.5% NaCl

2x YT broth is named in comparing its nutrition content to that of LB broth. It does have 2x as much yeast extract compared to LB broth, but it only has 60% (not exactly 2x) more peptone. Basically 2x YT is a richer medium than LB and can support higher cell density and a longer growth period for E.coli. 2x YT is originally formulated for the growth and maintenance of E.coli and its fibrous bacteriophage such as the M13 phage allows relatively large quantity phage production without exhausting the host.

Product literatures of bacterial E.coli growth medium 2xYT broth or medium

Technical sheet | MSDS

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Bacterial E.coli growth medium TB or Terrific Broth
1.2% peptone, 2.4% yeast extract, 72 mM K2HPO4, 17 mM KH2PO4, and 0.4% glycerol

TB or Terrific broth is a phosphate buffered rich medium. In addition to 20% more peptone and 380% more yeast extract than LB broth, TB also has an added 0.4% glycerol as an extra carbon source. All these nutrients in TB can support E.coli growth to OD600 5 to 8 under normal shaking incubation conditions. TB is commonly used for protein expression and plasmid production in a laboratory scale.

Product literatures of bacterial E.coli growth medium TB or Terrific Broth

Technical sheet | MSDS

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Bacterial E.coli growth medium SB or Super Broth
3.2% peptone, 2% yeast extract, and 0.5% NaCl

SB or Super Broth has 220% more peptone and 300% more yeast extract than LB. Therefore SB is supper rich in peptone and yeast extract. We estimated that the major nutrients in peptone and yeast extract are still in excess well after cells reach saturation while trace nutrients are depleted in the same culture. SB is used for plasmid or protein production.

Product literatures of bacterial E.coli growth medium SB or Super Broth

Technical sheet | MSDS

FAQs of commonly used bacterial E.coli growth media

1. How do you  select a commonly used growth medium for a research project?
2. Why is LB broth the most used medium in many academic labs?
3. What is the difference between LB Miller and LB Lennox broths?
4. Will magnesium (Mg2+) increase the cell densities for commonly used bacterial E.coli growth media?
5. Will agitation increase the cell density for commonly used bacterial E.coli growth media?
6. What is the best commonly used E.coli growth medium for plasmid production?
7. What is the best commonly used E.coli growth medium for protein production?
8. What is the best commonly used E.coli growth medium for phage production?
9. What is the best commonly used E.coli growth medium for making competent cells?
10. What is the highest cell density that may be obtained from commonly used bacterial E.coli growth media?

Price list of commonly used bacterial E.coli growth media

Warranty of common bacterial growth media

We guarantee the composition and sterilization of our common media. If our products fail to meet such specifications, Exptec will promptly replace the product. In addition, we also guarantee the prices of most our common media. Please email us at info@exptec.com for more information.

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High density bacterial E.coli growth media
DNAGro^TM, ProGro^TM, AutoX^TM, DetoX^TM, InduX^TM, and SecPro^TM media

Features and benefits of high density growth media

Applications of high density growth media

More information for high density growth media...>
More information about yield, solubility, stability, and activity...>

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High density bacterial E.coli growth medium DNAGro^TM
For plasmid DNA and phage production

For any given plasmid (copy number of the plasmid is determined), there are two ways to increase plasmid yield. The first way is to increase the cell density or the number of cells. The other way is to increase the percentage of cells containing the plasmid. Adding chloramphenicol to the medium may amplify some plasmids but not others. E.coli growth medium DNAGro^TM is proprietarily formulated for plasmid DNA and phage production. Most commonly-used E.coli strains can reach OD600 = 30 in a shake flask container in this  medium. Recombinant protein cannot be expressed in this medium because the medium composition inhibits protein induction by IPTG, arabinose, or any sugar-based inductions. Protein induction may be achieved in this medium if heat or salt inducible promoters are used. Ten times or higher cell density may be obtained from this medium when compared to that from LB broth when growth conditions are closely followed. Plasmid or phage DNA yields will increase accordingly if there is sufficient selection.

Click on above product names for literatures of the high density bacterial E.coli growth medium DNAGro^TM

MSDS of the high density bacterial E.coli growth medium DNAGro^TM

Liquid growth medium MSDS
Powder growth medium MSDS

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High density bacterial E.coli growth medium ProGro^TM
For recombinant protein production

E.coli growth medium ProGro^TM is proprietarily formulated for recombinant protein production. Most commonly used E.coli strains can reach OD600 = 30 in a shake flask container in this  medium. Recombinant proteins can be expressed in this medium regardless whether they are induced by IPTG, sugar, heat or salt. Ten times or higher cell density may be obtained in this medium than that from LB broth when growth conditions are closely followed. Recombinant protein yield will increase accordingly if there is sufficient selection. This growth medium contains trace metals, mineral, and vitamins that may be needed for solubility, stability, and activity of a recombinant protein.

Click on above product names for literatures of the high density bacterial E.coli growth medium ProGro^TM

MSDS of the high density bacterial E.coli growth medium ProGro^TM

Liquid growth medium MSDS
Powder growth medium MSDS

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High density bacterial E.coli growth medium AutoX^TM
For automatic recombinant protein expression without adding IPTG

E.coli growth medium AutoX^TM is proprietarily formulated for recombinant protein production. Most commonly used E.coli strains can reach OD600 = 30 in a shake flask container in this  medium. Recombinant proteins can be automatically expressed in this medium if they are induced by IPTG. Induction occurs after cell density reaches OD600 = 10. A specific inducer must be added if the recombinant protein is not induced by IPTG or lactose. Cell density ten times or higher may be obtained in this medium when compared to that from LB broth when growth conditions are closely followed. Recombinant protein yield will increased accordingly if there is sufficient selection. This growth medium contains trace metals, mineral, and vitamins that may be needed for solubility, stability, and activity of a recombinant protein.

Click on above product names for literatures of the high density bacterial E.coli growth medium AutoX^TM

MSDS of the high density bacterial E.coli growth medium AutoX^TM

Liquid growth medium MSDS
Powder growth medium MSDS

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High density bacterial E.coli growth medium DetoX^TM
For toxic recombinant protein production

DetoX^TM E.coli growth medium is proprietarily formulated for toxic protein production. Most commonly used E.coli strains can reach OD600 = 30 in a shake flask container in this  medium. This medium is designed for E.coli cell growth and propagation, but not for recombinant protein expression or production. The inhibitors in this medium will prohibit protein expression induced by IPTG, lactose, arabinose, or any other sugars. After cells reach inducible OD (5 to 20 for most cell strains or recombinant proteins), other high density growth media such as InduX^TM or ProGro^TM should be transferred to the cell pellet and induction may be performed in these media instead. Using common bacterial growth medium such as LB will result in lower yield. The medium has no effect on protein expression induced by heat or salt. This growth medium contains trace metals, mineral, and vitamins that may be needed for solubility, stability, and activity of a recombinant protein.

Click on above product names for literatures of the high density bacterial E.coli growth medium DetoX^TM

MSDS of the high density bacterial E.coli growth medium DetoX^TM

Liquid growth medium MSDS
Powder growth medium MSDS

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High density bacterial E.coli growth medium InduX^TM
For toxic recombinant protein production with DetoX^TM medium

InduX^TM E.coli growth medium is proprietarily formulated for recombinant protein production. Most commonly used E.coli strains can reach OD600 = 30 in a shake flask container in this medium. Recombinant proteins can be expressed in this medium regardless whether they are induced by IPTG, any other sugars, heat or salt. Ten times or higher cell density may be obtained in this medium than that from LB broth when growth conditions are closely followed. Recombinant protein yield will increase accordingly if there is sufficient selection. No IPTG is needed if the recombinant protein is induced by IPTG or lactose. A specific inducer must be added at induction if the protein is not induced by IPTG or lactose. This growth medium contains trace metals, mineral, and vitamins that may be needed for solubility, stability, and activity of a recombinant protein.

Click on above product names for literatures of the high density bacterial E.coli growth medium InduX^TM

MSDS of the high density bacterial E.coli growth medium InduX^TM

Liquid growth medium MSDS
Powder growth medium MSDS

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High density bacterial E.coli growth medium SecPro^TM
For secretory recombinant protein production

SecPro^TM E.coli growth medium is proprietarily formulated for secretory protein expression. Most commonly used E.coli strains can reach OD600 = 20 in a shake flask container in this  medium. Recombinant proteins can be expressed in this medium regardless whether they are induced by IPTG, any other sugars, heat or salt. Ten times or higher cell density may be obtained in this medium when compared to that from LB broth when growth conditions are closely followed. Secretory protein expression will increase one hundred times or more. This growth medium contains trace metals, mineral, and vitamins that may be needed for solubility, stability, and activity of a recombinant protein. Some mutant cell strains or strains with toxic proteins do not grow well in this medium. In these cases, these cell strains should be grown in DetoX^TM or ProGro^TM medium first to reach inducible OD. Then change the medium to SecPro^TM for induction.

Click on above product names for literatures of the high density bacterial E.coli growth medium SecPro^TM

MSDS of the high density bacterial E.coli growth medium SecPro^TM

Liquid growth medium MSDS
Powder growth medium MSDS

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FAQs of high density bacterial E.coli growth media

1. Why should a high density growth medium be used for a project?
2. How does one select a high density growth medium?
3. Can DNAGro^TM growth medium increase the yield for any plasmid?
4. Can DNAGro^TM growth medium be used for protein expression?
5. Can chloramphenicol be used in DNAGro^TM growth medium?
6. Can ProGro^TM, AutoX^TM, and InduX^TM growth media increase the yield for any recombinant protein?
7. Can DetoX^TM growth medium reduce the toxicity of any protein to the host cells?
8. Why can these high density growth media increase solubility of a recombinant protein?
9. Will these high density growth media increase solubility for any insoluble protein?
10. Can these high density growth medium increase protein stability or activity?
11. What are the typical conditions used for the high density growth media?
12. What are the highest OD600 values from different shake flask containers?
13. What are the OD600 values at normal shaking speed?
14. Can high density growth media be used at low temperatures?
15. What are the differences between glass and plastic flasks? How about different plastics?
16. What are the differences between baffled and regular flasks?
17. What are the differences among conical, round- bottom, and square-bottom tubes?
18. Why can't I reach OD600 = 30 to 50 even though the high density media were shaken at 350 to 450 rpm?
19. Can we use the high density media in deep-well plates? What will be the OD?
20. Why do I sometimes get OD higher than 50?
21. Can all high density growth media reach OD600 = 30 to 50?
22. How do these high density growth media compare to other special media?
23. What are the benefits of using high density growth media?

Examples of using high density growth media

Price list of high density E.coli growth media

Warranty of high density bacterial growth  media

We guarantee our high density bacterial growth media can support E.coli growth over OD₆₀₀ = 20 in a shake flask container. If the aeration conditions are carefully followed, the cell density can reach OD₆₀₀ = 30 to 50. Protein and plasmid yields will increase accordingly. If our products fail to meet such specifications, Exptec will promptly replace the product. Please email us at info@exptec.com for more information.

In addition to medium contents, protein yield, solubility, stability, and activity are also related to other factors. Please click on respective words for more information.

Related products of growth media

DNA ladders or DNA markers
Expression vectors
Competent cells for cloning and expression
E.coli cell strains for protein expression

Related literatures of growth media

Bacterial growth media
Plasmid DNA yield
Protein yield
Protein solubility
Toxic protein cloning and expression

Protocols of growth media

Plasmid DNA mini-prep
Protein induction analysis
Protein solubility analysis
Protein prep with ProGro^TM medium

Notes to international customers

1. All liquid media will be shipped to international customers only when the shipping cost is prepaid. By providing us with the account number of the preferred carrier, we can charge shipping costs directly to the customer's account. The shipping charges posted on our web site serve as packing and handling fees for international purchases.
2. Since liquid media cannot be exposed to extreme temperatures, we will use express delivery if liquid media are ordered.
3. Our customers may choose their preferred shipping methods. In these cases, we CANNOT guarantee the delivery conditions of the liquid media.
4. It is our customers' responsibility to pay all the duties, taxes, and fees associated with importation and The Customs.
5. It is important to get The Customs clearance before purchasing our products. We will not refund the purchase if the products are returned by The Customs.
6. MSDS for each medium may be downloaded from this page under each product. MSDS may be needed for The Customs clearance.

Please email us at info@exptec.com for more information.

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