Description

In general, the advantages of MEM-MAX in HBSS Buffer over Regular MEM in HBSS Buffer are as follows:

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, MEM-MAX in HBSS Buffer contains:

  • 2 mM L-Alanyl-L-Glutamine (434 mg/L) (therefore possess longer shelf life)
  • Non-Essential Amino Acids
  • Sodium Bicarbonate (2.50 g/L)
  • Non-Essential Amino Acids
  • PurMa Biologics Manufactures several types of MEM -MAX based on the amount of Sodium Bicarbonate and HEPES (PH capacity) requested.
  • Phenol Red
  • Moreover, High Glucose MEM-MAX in HBSS Buffer (4.5g /L) is available at PurMa Biologics (Cat: P3M429122)

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 this 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 the 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. MEM-MAX functions better than regular MEM on primary cell culture and most of the commercial cell lines such as MDCK, glial cells, fibroblasts, human endothelial cells, and rat fibroblasts. MEM-MAX contains no proteins, lipids, or growth factors. Therefore, it requires supplementation, commonly with 10% Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS)

MEM-MAX contains:

  • 2 mM L-Alanyl-L-Glutamine (434 mg/L) (therefore possess longer shelf life)
  • Non-Essential Amino Acids
  • Phenol Red

For the complete formulation, click here: MEM-MAX in HBSS Buffer formulation

References

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  3. Long-term organ culture of hamster cheek pouch mucosa. Mock D, Main JH. J Oral Pathol. 1976 Jul;5(4):237-40. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0714.1976.tb01770.x. PMID: 820846
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  7. Heat-stabilized albumin microspheres as a sustained drug delivery system for the antimetabolite, 5-fluorouracil. Truter EJ. Artif Cells Blood Substit Immobil Biotechnol. 1995;23(5):579-86. doi: 10.3109/10731199509117972. PMID: 8528451
  8. Roles of transforming growth factor beta in inhibition of androgen-induced growth of Shionogi carcinoma cells in serum-free medium. Yamanishi H, Nonomura N, Tanaka A, Yasui T, Nishizawa Y, Matsumoto K, Sato B. Cancer Res. 1990 Oct 1;50(19):6179-83. PMID: 2169337
  9. Leucine suppresses acid-induced protein wasting in L6 rat muscle cells. Bevington A, Brown J, Walls J. Eur J Clin Invest. 2001 Jun;31(6):497-503. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2362.2001.00845.x. PMID: 11422399
  10. In vitro steroidogenesis by granulosa cells from equine pre-ovulatory follicles. Tucker KE, Henderson KA, Duby RT. J Reprod Fertil Suppl. 1991;44:45-55. PMID: 1795289
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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 N/A
Indicator Phenol red
Mycoplasma Detection Negative
Sterility Tested Sterile filtered using 0.22 µm filter
Form Liquid
Shipping Condition  Room temperature