Description

In general, the advantages of EMEM MAX over Regular EMEM are as follows:

  1. PH Capacity. The standard form of EMEM-MAX contains 2.5 g/L of Sodium Bicarbonate. PurMa Biologics also manufactures EMEM with higher NaHCO3 (2.438 g/L) which provides higher protection against PH changes (Cat: P3M132110)
  1. Contains 2 mM L-Alanyl-L-Glutamine (0.434 g/L) instead of L-Glutamine and therefore:
  • Possess longer shelf life)
  • Minimizes toxic ammonia build-up.
  • Improves cell viability and growth.
  • Remains stable across a wide range of temperatures.
  • Minimizes the growth of pathogens by stabilizing the PH.
  • Improves the culture of primary cells.

Additionally, EMEM – MAX contains:

  • 2 mM L-Alanyl-L-Glutamine (434 mg/L) (therefore possess longer shelf life)
  • Non-Essential Amino Acids
  • Sodium Bicarbonate (1.50 g/L)
  • 1 mM sodium pyruvate
  • Non-Essential Amino Acids
  • PurMa Biologics Manufactures several types of EMEM-MAX based on the amount of Sodium Bicarbonate and HEPES (PH capacity) requested.
  • Phenol Red
  • Moreover, High Glucose DMEM-MAX (4.5g /L) is available at PurMa Biologics (Cat: P3M129110)

L-glutamine is a vital amino acid that is supplemented with mammalian cell culture media. This important amino acid has several important functions including the production of purine and pyrimidine nucleotides amino sugars, and glutathione as well as performing as the secondary source of energy. The latter is more crucial in cells dividing rapidly.

One drawback of using L-glutamine is that in solutions such as cell culture media, L-glutamine degrades, resulting in the generation of toxic ammonia and pyrrolidine carboxylic acid. The speed of degradation of L-glutamine depends on time, temperature, and pH. One way to minimize the degradation of L-glutamine degradation in media is to gradually add these amino acids to your cell culture but has to be calculated to keep the level of L-glutamine at a constant level. Practically, this strategy even though is possible but tedious, and depending on the volume of cell culture work in your la, keeping track of time to keep the level of L-glutamine at the same level is difficult and could be tedious if not impossible.

A viable and well-proven alternative for using L-glutamine, which is less sensitive to environmental factors such as pH, is applying L-alanyl-L-glutamine, which is more stable in aqueous solutions and does not easily degrade and cells gradually release aminopeptidases that hydrolyze the dipeptide, slowly releasing L-alanine and L-glutamine into the culture media. The resulting L-glutamine and L-alanine are then used by the cells for protein production or in the TCA cycle. PurMaTM GluaSup (Cat# P3S210 559) is a proprietary combination of L-alanyl-L-glutamine and other elements which prevent degradation of L-glutamine in the period when is released from L-alanyl-L-glutamine before being utilized by cells. Using PurMaTM GluaSup maximizes energy metabolism and high growth yield. The other components in PurMaTM GluaSup neutralize the trace of ammonia on your cells whose generation in cell culture is inevitable in presence of L-glutamine and harmful to the cells.

Additionally, PurMaTM GluaSup offers more buffering capacity which maintains physiological pH more efficiently.  An extra buffering system in this media is a powerful tool to avoid changing the PH which results in instability in growing and cellular mechanisms. Changing the PH is also one of the most common factors for growing mold and other pathogens. EMEM-MAX functions better than regular EMEM on primary cell culture and most of the commercial cell lines such as MDCK, glial cells, fibroblasts, human endothelial cells, and rat fibroblasts. EMEM-MAX contains no proteins, lipids, or growth factors. Therefore, it requires supplementation, commonly with 10% Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS. In general,

EMEM -MAX contains:

  • 2 mM L-Alanyl-L-Glutamine (434 mg/L) (therefore possess longer shelf life)
  • 1mM mM sodium pyruvate (1100 mg/L)
  • Low glucose (1000 mg/L). For higher glucose please order P3M129110 EMEM
  • Non-Essential Amino Acids
  • Sodium Bicarbonate (1.5g/L), for higher NAHCO3 (2.438 g/L), please order EMEM, Cat: P3M159110
  • Phenol Red
  • Lipoic Acid

The complete formulation can be found here: EMEM MAX Formulation

References:

  1. Immunization and culture of rainbow trout organ sections in vitro. Anderson DP, Dixon OW, Lizzio EF. Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 1986 Jun;12(1-4):203-11. doi: 10.1016/0165-2427(86)90124-8. PMID:
  2. Human plasma and amino acids as moderators of uptake and metabolic consequences of antifolates in WIL-2 and human leukemia cells. Fyfe MJ, Sedwick WD, Brown OE, Laszlo J. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1981 Mar;66(3):445-51. PMID:
  3. Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 from Hep G2 cells is potently inhibited by the truncated IGF-I analogue des-(1-3) IGF-I. Lindgren BF, Isaksson M, Stern I, Hall K.Acta Endocrinol (Copenh). 1993 Jan;128(1):81-7. doi: 10.1530/acta.0.1280081.PMID:
  4. Extracellular ATP and ADA-buffer enable chick embryo fibroblasts to grow in secondary cultures in protein-free, hormone-free, extracellular growth factor-free medium. Pietrzkowski Z, Korohoda W. Folia Histochem Cytobiol. 1988;26(3):143-52. PMID: 3197876.
  5. Dextran T-500 improves survival and spreading of chick embryo cells in serum-free medium. Pietrzkowski Z, Reiss K, Korohoda W. Folia Histochem Cytobiol. 1988;26(3):123-31. PMID:
  6. Improved method for the isolation and cultivation of human scalp dermal papilla cells. Warren R, Chestnut MH, Wong TK, Otte TE, Lammers KM, Meili ML. J Invest Dermatol. 1992 May;98(5):693-9. doi: 10.1111/1523-1747.ep12499909. PMID:
  7. Human lens epithelial cell proliferation in a protein-free medium. Wormstone IM, Liu CS, Rakic JM, Marcantonio JM, Vrensen GF, Duncan G.Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1997 Feb;38(2):396-404.PMID:
Parameter Specification
Appearance Red, clear liquid
pH  7.2 ± 0.1
Osmolality  275-360 mOsm/L
Endotoxin  NMT< 2EU/mL
Mycoplasma Negative
Suitability  Suitable for mammalian cell culture
Additive  Sodium pyruvate
Indicator  Phenol red
Mycoplasma Detection Negative
Sterility Tested  Sterile filtered using 0.22 µm filter
Form Liquid
Shipping Condition  Room temperature