DMEM Medium Overview
DMEM (Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium) is a widely used cell culture medium formulated to support the growth of a variety of mammalian cells. It is an enhancement of the original Eagle's Minimal Essential Medium (MEM) with additional components that improve cell proliferation and viability.
Key Components of DMEM Medium:
- Glucose:
- Provides an energy source for cells.
- Available in high (4.5 g/L) or low (1.0 g/L) concentrations.
- Amino Acids:
- Essential and non-essential amino acids support protein synthesis and cell growth.
- Vitamins:
- Supports various cellular functions, including metabolic pathways and enzymatic activities.
- Salts:
- Maintains osmotic balance and membrane potential.
- Common salts include sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium chloride, and magnesium sulfate.
- Buffering Agents:
- Sodium bicarbonate and sometimes HEPES are used to maintain the pH of the medium within the physiological range (7.2-7.4).
- Phenol Red:
- A pH indicator that helps monitor the pH of the culture medium.
- Optional and can be excluded for certain sensitive cell lines.
Variations of DMEM:
- DMEM comes in various formulations to cater to different cell types and experimental needs.
- Customizable with or without glucose, pyruvate, or specific amino acids.
Usage:
- Widely employed in research labs for culturing adherent and suspension cells.
- Suitable for a variety of applications, including tissue engineering, gene expression studies, and drug screening.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|