Gene Pulser Xcell™ Electroporation Systems

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Overview

Preset Programs
Preset Programs
Mammalian Cells Bacterial Cells Fungal Cells
CHO E. coli S. cerevisiae
COS7 A. tumefaciens P. pastoris
3T3 P. aeruginosa C. albicans
293 S. aureus S. pombe
HeLa B. cereus D. discoideum
BHK21 S. pyogenes  
A549 L. plantarum  
CV1    
K562    
HL60    
Jurkat    
HuT78    

Detailed parameters can be found for each of these cell lines, with details for the preparation of electrocompetent cells in the Gene Pulser Xcell system instructions or at www.bio-rad.com/transfection/.

Transfection Protocol Library Transfection Protocol Library
Transfection Protocol Library


The Transfection Protocol Online Library contains protocols obtained from the literature, developed by Bio-Rad scientists, or submitted by scientists like you. browse protocols to view our library and find your starting point.

Bio-Rad Laboratories has helped scientists deliver molecules into cells for over 35 years. Instruments, including the Gene Pulser® series of electroporators, the MicroPulser™ electroporator, and the Helios® gene gun and PDS-1000/He™ biolistic systems, have been used successfully to transfect prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, including plant and animal cells. These transfection instruments are cited extensively in the literature. Our chemically mediated methods include lipid-based transfection reagents — TransFectin™ lipid reagent for delivery of plasmid DNA and siLentFect™ lipid reagent for siRNA delivery.

Educational Tools
Gene Pulser Xcell™ Tutorial
Gene Pulser Xcell™ Electroporation System Tutorial

The Gene Pulser Xcell Electroporation System tutorial provides an overview of system components, applications, and troubleshooting. Specific topics include system components and features, installation, setup of electroporation experiments, answers to frequently asked questions, and list of available parts.

Click the image below to start the video.



Choice of Waveforms
Choice of Waveforms

A choice of exponential or square waveforms. Both exponential-decay and square-wave pulses have been used very effectively for both electroporation and electrofusion. The shape of the electroporation wave can have a significant effect on the transformation efficiency for different cell types. The Gene Pulser MXcell system generates both exponential and square waveforms, enabling you to choose the waveform and protocol that will work best for your cells.

Exponential-decay pulse

Exponential-decay pulse. When a capacitor, charged to a voltage V0, is discharged into cells, the voltage applied to the cells decreases over time in an exponential curve such that the voltage V at any given time t is given by V = V0e-(t/RC). In the special case where t = Τ, then V = V0/e. The value CR is known as the time constant of the voltage decay. The shorter the time constant the faster the decay.

Square-wave pulse

Square-wave pulse. Truncating the pulse from a capacitor after discharging it into the sample generates a square-wave pulse. The pulse length is the time the cells are subjected to the discharge. During the pulse, the voltage again decreases by an exponential decay so that at the end of the pulse the voltage is lower than at the beginning. This drop in voltage is called the pulse droop and it is measured as a percentage of the initial voltage.

The Gene Pulser Xcell™ system is a modular electroporation system for transfecting every cell type. The system includes a main unit, a ShockPod™ cuvette chamber, and your choice of accessory modules: the capacitance extender (CE module) and the pulse controller (PC module).

Features and Benefits

  • Universal electroporation — transfects all cell types, from primary and stem cells to bacteria and yeast
  • Preset protocols — include the most common mammalian and bacterial cell types
  • Flexibility — choice of programs for preset protocols, optimization protocols, manual operation, and/or user protocols
  • Protocol library — collection of electroporation protocols for every cell type including primary, immortal, and bacterial cells
  • Data management — enables storage and recall of parameters used in the previous 100 experiments, useful for troubleshooting
  • Reproducibility — uses PulseTrac™ circuitry and arc-protection features to ensure reproducibility and sample protection

System Options

  • Gene Pulser Xcell total electroporation system (catalog #165-2660) — the complete electroporation system for transfection of both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells; includes both the CE module, and the PC module
  • Gene Pulser Xcell eukaryotic electroporation system (catalog #165-2661) — for the electroporation of most eukaryotic cells, including mammalian cells and plant protoplasts; includes the CE module
  • Gene Pulser Xcell microbial electroporation system (catalog #165-2662) — for the electroporation of bacteria and fungi, as well as other applications where high-voltage pulses are applied to samples of small volume; includes the PC module

More Information

  • Features modifiable delivery parameters including time constant, actual voltage applied, pulse interval, and pulse time, depending on the waveform (exponential or square) chosen
  • Provides a choice of programs for manual operation, preset protocols, user protocols, and an optimization protocol
  • Compatible with 0.1 cm, 0.2 cm, and 0.4 cm Gene Pulser®/Micropulser™ electroporation cuvettes
  • Compatible with any electroporation buffer, including Bio-Rad's Gene Pulser electroporation buffer

Gene Pulser Xcell™ Total System
Includes main unit, CE module, PC module, and ShockPod™ cuvette chamber 		 
Outputs Waveform: Exponential or square
Voltage: 10–3,000 V
Capacitance 10–500 V, 25–3,275 µF in 25 µF increments
500–3,000 V, 10, 25, 50 µF
Resistance (parallel) 50–1,000 Ω in 50 Ω increments, plus infinity
Sample resistance 20 Ω minimum at 10–2,500 V
600 Ω minimum at 2,500–3,000 V
Square-wave timing  10–500 V: 0.05–10 ms in 0.05 ms increments, 10–100 ms pulse in 1 ms increments, 1–10 pulses, 0.1–10 sec interval
500–3,000 V: 0.05–5 ms in 0.05 ms increments, 1–2 pulses, 5 sec minimum interval
Gene Pulser Xcell Eukaryotic System
Includes main unit, CE module, and ShockPod cuvette chamber 		 
Outputs and other specifications Same as total system without the parallel resistance
Gene Pulser Xcell Microbial System
Includes main unit, PC module, and ShockPod cuvette chamber 		 
Outputs Waveform: Exponential or square
Voltage: 200–3,000 V
Capacitance  10, 25, 50 µF
Resistance (parallel)  50–1,000 Ω in 50 Ω increments, plus infinity
Sample resistance  20 Ω minimum at 200–2,500 V
600 Ω minimum at 2,500–3,000 V
Square-wave timing  0.05–5 ms pulse duration in 0.05 ms increments,
1–2 pulses, 5 sec minimum interval
Gene Pulser Xcell Main Unit  
Outputs Waveform: Exponential or square
Voltage: 200–3,000 V
Capacitance 10, 25, 50 µF
Sample resistance 20 Ω minimum at 200–2,500 V
600 Ω minimum at 2,500–3,000 V
Square-wave timing  0.05–5 ms pulse duration in 0.05 ms increments,
1–2 pulses, 5 sec minimum interval
General  
Input voltage 100–120 VAC or 220–240 VAC, 50/60 Hz
Power Maximum 240 W (during short charging periods)
Operating environment Temperature 0–35°C, humidity 0–95% (noncondensing)
Regulatory Safety EN 61010, EMC EN 61326 Class A
Dimensions (W x D x H) Main unit: 31 x 30 x 14 cm
CE module: 31 x 28 x 9 cm
PC module: 31 x 28 x 5 cm
Weight Main unit: 6.6 kg
CE module: 3.1 kg
PC module: 1.9 kg
Gene Pulser Xcell™ Total System

165-2660
100/240 V, 50/60 Hz, electroporator, includes main unit, CE and PC modules, shocking chamber, 15 sterile electroporation cuvettes (5 each of 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 cm electrode gap), cuvette rack

List Price:   $7,140.00
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Gene Pulser Xcell™ Eukaryotic System

165-2661
100/240 V, 50/60 Hz, electroporator, includes main unit, CE module for exponential-decay or square-wave pulses, shocking chamber,
5 x 0.4 cm sterile electroporation cuvettes, cuvette rack

List Price:   $6,630.00
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Gene Pulser Xcell Microbial System

165-2662
100/240 V, 50/60 Hz, electroporator, includes main unit, PC module for exponential-decay pulse delivery, shocking chamber, 5 each of 0.1 and 0.2 cm sterile electroporation cuvettes, cuvette rack

List Price:   $5,955.00
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Gene Pulser Xcell Main Unit

165-2666
100/240 V, 50/60 Hz, main module of the Gene Pulser Xcell electroporation system

List Price:   $5,325.00
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Gene Pulser Xcell CE Module

165-2667
Pkg of 1, capacitance extender for use with the Gene Pulser Xcell electroporation system, functional range of 25–3,275 μF, includes integral leads

List Price:   $1,810.00
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Gene Pulser Xcell PC Module

165-2668
Pkg of 1, pulse controller module for use with the Gene Pulser Xcell electroporation system, range of 50–1,000 ohm, includes integral leads

List Price:   $935.00
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Gene Pulser Xcell ShockPod Cuvette Chamber

165-2669
Pkg of 1, electroporation chamber of the Gene Pulser Xcell and Gene Pulser II electroporation systems, includes integral leads

List Price:   $570.00
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Number Description Options
2249 Examples of Electro-Transfected Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic Cells, Rev A Click to download
1353 Electrotransformation of E. coli With M13 DNA Click to download
1360 Efficient Electro-transformation of Mycobacterium smegmatis Click to download
1354 Transgenic Zebrafish by Electroporation Click to download
1352 Transformation of Filamentous Fungi by High-Voltage Electroporation Click to download
1359 High Electrotransformation Efficiencies Obtained With DNA From Ligation Mixtures Click to download
1357 Electroporation of Yeast Artificial Chromosomes Click to download
1358 Efficient Cloning and Electro-transformation of Large Eukaryotic DNA Fragments Click to download
1969 Transient Gene Expression Following Single and Double Exponential Decay Electroporation Pulses Click to download
1356 Production of Hybridomas by Electroporation Click to download
1355 Production of Hybridomas by Electrofusion Click to download
1365 Introducing Proteins Into Cells by Electroporation Click to download
1345 Electroporation of Primary Bone Marrow Cells Click to download
1349 Electroporation of T-Cell and Macrophage Cell Lines Click to download
5542 Electroporation Systems Brochure, Rev A Click to download [ Add to Cart ]
5582 Gene Pulser Electroporation Buffer Product Information Sheet, Rev A Click to download [ Add to Cart ]
5399 Gene Pulser siRNA Electroporation References, Rev A Click to download
4006217 Instruction Manual, Gene Pulser Xcell Electroporation System, Rev A Click to download [ Add to Cart ]
4006218 Instruction Manual, Gene Pulser Xcell Electroporation System Quick Guide, Rev A Click to download
5445 Gene Pulser Xcell Electroporation System Flier, Rev A Click to download [ Add to Cart ]
5924 Stem Cell Basics for Life Science Researchers Brochure, Rev A Click to download [ Add to Cart ]