[Use of 2-mercaptoethanol in cell culture].
Survival and growth in in vitro cultivation of lymphocytes, lymphoma cells and some other cells including human carcinomas are profoundly improved by 2-mercaptoethanol. These cells hardly take up cystine, an essential nutrient in the culture medium, but in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol they can utilize cystine. Recently it has been found that 2-mercaptoethanol is effective in the in vitro cultivation of pathogenic trypanosomes and in the in vitro development of bovine embryos. The mechanisms by which 2-mercaptoethanol improves the survival and growth of these cells are described.
Bannai
S
S
Department of Biochemistry, University of Tsukuba, Japan.
D000818:Animals; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003553:Cystine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008623:Mercaptoethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects
D003553:Cystine; D008623:Mercaptoethanol