Q1:Does the medium require pH adjustment during preparation?
When preparing the powdered culture medium into a liquid form, it is necessary to adjust the pH. For detailed instructions, please refer to the product manual for the proper preparation of the culture medium.
Q2:Is BioEngine's CHO cell culture medium the same as AGT medium?
NO. The AGT granules shows faster product dissolution and convenient preparation. However, it comes at a higher cost with no significant differences in performance compared with conventional powder culture media.
Q3:What is the lead time for product delivery?
For catalog products, they are usually available in stock for immediate shipment. If they are not in stock, they can typically be shipped within 2-4 weeks. For custom culture media products, the process involves signing a confidentiality agreement, formulation communication and confirmation, raw material confirmation, production scheduling, testing, and shipment. Provided that all the necessary raw materials are available, a small sample can be provided within 2 weeks, and the finished product can be delivered within a minimum of 1 month.
Q4:What is in DMEM media?
DMEM (Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium) is a type of cell culture medium that contains a variety of components necessary for cell growth and survival. DMEM may also contain additional supplements or modifications depending on the specific application or experimental requirements. The DMEM culture medium formula can be downloaded from the BioEngine website. If you need assistance, please feel free to contact us at any time.
Q5: What are the differences between transient and stable protein expression?
Transient and stable protein expression are both techniques used in molecular biology to produce proteins of interest in cells. While they share some similarities, there are also several key differences between them.
Transient protein expression involves the introduction of foreign DNA into cells, which leads to the transient production of the protein of interest. This can be achieved through the use of viral vectors or by introducing plasmids encoding the protein into the cells. Transient protein expression typically results in high levels of protein expression over a short period of time, typically a few days. This makes it a useful technique for rapid screening of proteins or for the production of small quantities of protein for research purposes.
Stable protein expression, on the other hand, involves the integration of foreign DNA into the host cell genome, resulting in the long-term production of the protein of interest. This can be achieved through the use of viral vectors or by selecting for cells that have incorporated the foreign DNA. Stable protein expression typically results in lower levels of protein expression than transient expression but can be maintained over long periods of time. This makes it a useful technique for the production of larger quantities of protein for research or commercial purposes.
Another difference between transient and stable protein expression is the level of control over protein expression. In transient expression, the level of protein expression is typically high and difficult to control, while in stable expression, the level of protein expression can be controlled by selecting for cells with the desired level of expression or by using inducible expression systems.
Overall, the choice between transient and stable protein expression will depend on the specific requirements of the experiment or application, including the desired quantity and quality of the protein, the duration of expression, and the level of control required over protein expression.
Q6: What are the differences between 293 cells and CHO cells in protein production?
Both 293 cells and CHO cells are commonly used for protein production, but they differ in several ways. Here are some of the key differences:
1. Expression system: 293 cells are human embryonic kidney cells, while CHO cells are Chinese hamster ovary cells. As a result, 293 cells are a human expression system, while CHO cells are a non-human expression system.
2. Transfection efficiency: 293 cells have a higher transfection efficiency than CHO cells, meaning that they are more likely to take up and express exogenous DNA. This can result in higher levels of protein expression.
3. Glycosylation patterns: CHO cells are known for their ability to perform complex glycosylation, which is important for the biological activity and stability of many therapeutic proteins. 293 cells, on the other hand, tend to produce simpler glycosylation patterns.
4. Protein quality: Due to their ability to perform complex glycosylation, CHO cells often produce higher quality and more stable proteins than 293 cells. However, the higher transfection efficiency of 293 cells can compensate for this in some cases.
Overall, both 293 cells and CHO cells have their advantages and disadvantages for protein production, and the choice of cell line will depend on the specific needs of the project.
Q7: What are the advantages of hybridoma cells in antibody production?
"Hybridoma cells are cells that are produced by fusing antibody-producing B cells with immortal myeloma cells. They can produce monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that are specific to a single epitope of a target antigen. Some of the advantages of hybridoma cells in antibody production are:
They have natural affinity maturation, which means they have undergone genetic modifications in the host animal to optimize their antibody binding.
They have low level of immunogenicity, which means they are less likely to trigger an immune response in the recipient.
They have constant domain activity, which means they can interact with other immune cells and molecules through their constant regions.
They offer limitless production of homogenous antibodies that are highly sensitive and specific.
They are cost-effective compared to other methods of producing mAbs.
They are useful for diagnostic, imaging, and therapeutic purposes in various fields of research and medicine.
Q8: What is a hybridoma cell?
Hybridoma cells are cells that are produced by fusing antibody-producing B cells with immortal myeloma cells. These cells can produce large quantities of identical antibodies, also known as monoclonal antibodies, that are specific for a particular antigen. Hybridoma cells are useful for generating monoclonal antibodies for various research and medical applications, such as industrial biotechnology, cancer research, infectious disease research, neuroscience, and immunology. BioEngine provides serum-free medium for hybridoma cells. Please contact us for more information.
Q9: How to prevent mycoplasma contamination during cell culture?
"Mycoplasma contamination is a common problem in cell culture that can affect the growth and behavior of cells. Here are some measures that can help prevent mycoplasma contamination in cell culture:
1. Practice good aseptic technique: Use proper sterile technique when handling cells and cell culture media. Use sterile equipment, including pipettes, tips, and culture dishes. Keep the work area clean and free from potential sources of contamination.
2. Test incoming cell lines for mycoplasma: Before starting a new cell line, test it for mycoplasma using a commercially available mycoplasma detection kit or other methods.
3. Quarantine new cell lines: Isolate new cell lines in a separate area of the lab until they have been tested and confirmed to be free of mycoplasma contamination.
4. Regularly monitor cell cultures for mycoplasma: Routinely test cell cultures for mycoplasma contamination using a commercial kit or other methods. It is recommended to test every 4-6 weeks for mycoplasma contamination.
5. Use antibiotics: Add antibiotics to the cell culture medium to prevent mycoplasma contamination. Common antibiotics used for this purpose include penicillin, streptomycin, and gentamicin.
6. Store and handle cell cultures properly: Store cell cultures at the appropriate temperature and humidity conditions. Avoid overcrowding of cultures and keep incubators clean.
7. Limit exposure of cell cultures to outside sources: Minimize the exposure of cell cultures to sources of contamination such as skin, hair, and dust.
By following these measures, it is possible to reduce the risk of mycoplasma contamination in cell culture and maintain healthy cell cultures."
Q10:What are the advantages of BHK cells?
"BHK cells offer several advantages for research and bioprocessing, including:
1. High transfection efficiency: BHK cells are highly transfectable and can be easily genetically manipulated to express various proteins or molecules of interest.
2. Adaptable to serum-free culture: BHK cells can be adapted to grow in serum-free or chemically defined media, which is essential for bioprocessing applications.
3. High protein production: BHK cells have been widely used for the production of recombinant proteins, such as monoclonal antibodies, due to their ability to produce high yields of secreted proteins.
4. Easy to maintain and scale-up: BHK cells are easy to maintain in culture and can be scaled up for large-scale bioprocessing applications.
5. Broad applications: BHK cells have been used for various applications, including vaccine production, gene therapy, and other biopharmaceutical production."
Q11: What is the McCoy 5A medium without phenol red?
McCoy's 5A medium is a cell culture medium commonly used for the cultivation of various mammalian cells. It contains a mixture of amino acids, vitamins, glucose, and other nutrients that support cell growth. Phenol red is a pH indicator dye that is commonly included in cell culture media, but it can interfere with some assays. McCoy's 5A medium without phenol red is a variation of the medium that does not contain this dye, and it is useful for assays or experiments that are sensitive to pH changes.
Q12: What is the MDCK cell line culture?
The MDCK (Madin-Darby Canine Kidney) cell line is typically cultured in a nutrient-rich growth medium containing essential nutrients. The culture is maintained in a controlled environment with temperature, PH, and CO2 levels optimized for cell growth and proliferation. The cells are typically passaged (sub-cultured) periodically to maintain their growth and viability. MDCK cells are often used in virology and vaccine research due to their susceptibility to many viruses and their ability to form polarized monolayers. BioEngine provides serum-free MDCK cell culture media which could support high- density suspension cell culture and high production of vaccine.