Originally from Tartoff, et al. (1987), printed in Cold Spring Harbor Protocol.

Plasmid yield is, Tartoff et al. say, ≈10 µg/mL, ≈3.7-fold more than LB.
Shyam finds that E. coli TG1 saturates at OD₆₀₀ ≈ 18–20, whereas in LB, OD₆₀₀ ≈ 6.

Terrific Broth

• 12 g/L tryptone (1.2% m/V)
• 24 g/L yeast extract (2.4% m/V)
• 4 mL/L glycerol (4.34 mM, 0.4% V/V)
• 17 mM KH₂PO₄, 2.31 g/L
• 72 mM K₂HPO₄, 12.54 g/L
• (opt.) 15 g/L agar (1.5% m/V)

It was originally suggested to separately autoclave phosphate buffer and agar. It was recently found that phosphate and agar react to form H₂O₂, but E. coli are less, if at all, significantly impacted due to catalase expression. Commercial mixes do not separate the two, yet instruct autoclaving. There is also reason for separately autoclaving the glycerol, as glycerol partakes in Maillard reactions with tryptone, though probably less so than sugars do. Maillard reactions sequester nutrients and form products that decompose into growth-inhibitory compounds.

Magnesium is deficient in LB, but high level of trace mineral, including Mg²⁺, contamination of phosphate salts might provide enough in TB. To be sure, 10 mM MgSO₄ or MgCl₂ can be added.

Shyam rationalizes that TB supplemented with 0.4% v/v glucose would be just as good as SOC for transformation recovery.

Procedure for 1 L

1. Dissolve and autoclave on liquid cycle, 20 min, 15 psi:
   1. 12 g tryptone
   2. 24 g yeast extract
   3. 4 mL glycerol (or 8 mL 50% glycerol)
      (or add after autoclaving) 
   4. (opt.) 15 g/L agar
   5. final 900 mL diH₂O
2. Prepare or obtain 100 mL 10× TB buffer (0.17 M KH₂PO₄ 0.72 M K₂HPO₄)
   Dissolve and autoclave on liquid cycle, 20 min, 15 psi:
   1. 2.31 g KH₂PO₄
   2. 12.54 g K₂HPO₄
   3. initial 90 mL diH₂O, adjusted to 100 mL final
3. When 900 mL nutrient solution has cooled ≤60°C, add 100 mL sterile buffer.
4. Add any antibiotics when 50–55°C for agar before pouring, or even cooler for liquid.