The statistical analyses were performed using STATISTICA 9.1 software (Statsoft), using the normalized variables. The effect of each variable was estimated, as was standard error, and was assessed Galunisertib cost by the t-test, with all results giving p < 0.05 being considered statistically significant. Cell growth was measured by absorbance at 600 nm. This was converted to dry mass of cells using a standard calibration curve. Samples of cells from 1 mL culture were resuspended in a sample buffer (60 mM Tris–HCl, pH 6.8, 10% glycerol, 5% β-mercaptoethanol, 2% SDS, 0.5% Bromophenol Blue) to obtain the total protein extract, at a ratio of 25 μL buffer to each 0.1 Abs600 nm. These samples were added to

12.5% SDS-PAGE [17], stained with Coomassie Blue R-250. The same gel also had 2 μL low molecular weight marker (LMW, Amersham Bioscience) added, with 97 kDa, 66 kDa, 45 kDa, 30 kDa, 20.1 kDa and 14.4 kDa bands and 1340 ng, 1660 ng, 2940 ng, 1660 ng, 1600 ng and 2320 ng protein weight in each band, respectively, for the purpose of comparing with the bands corresponding to ClpP. The amount of protein expressed under each condition was analyzed

by densitometry using a Bio-Rad GS-800 calibrated densitometer and QuantityOne 4.4.1 software. The concentration of expressed protein was obtained using the ratio (mg/L) = (Abs600 nm × band in densitometry)/4, where 4 was the concentration factor used in the preparation GSK126 molecular weight of the total protein extract samples. In order to analyze plasmid segregation, 100 μL samples were taken from each experiment at the end of the 4 h expression period, with analysis done on two aliquots from each experiment. Each aliquot was serially diluted in sterile PBS to 10−6 (Fig. 1). 10 μL samples of each dilution with at least three replications were added to LB Agar plates with kanamycin (50 μg/mL) and without it. Plasmid stability was measured as the fraction of plasmid-bearing cells (Φ) by

calculating the ratio between the number of colony forming units (CFU/mL) on the plate with the antibiotic and on the plate without the antibiotic. A statistical evaluation was made with the aim of checking the reproducibility and variability of the procedures and for assessing plasmid stability (serial dilution and colony count). Student’s t-test was used to find out whether the mean values from the colony count were equivalent, while the F-test (Fisher) was used to find out whether the errors made at each stage of the count were equivalent. These tests were done using the values obtained from CFU/mL in the experiments at the center point of the experimental design, comparing different aliquots diluted to the same degree from the same culture, and the same aliquots diluted to different degrees from the same culture, as shown in the diagram in Fig. 1. In order to do the F  -test, F   was calculated using Eq.