alternative to fetal bovine serum - alternative to fetal bovine serum (Jun/28/2006 )

hello all,

fetal bovine serum is out of stock.

can we use any other sera, to stop trypsin action after trypsinization procedure



vms

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You can also use calf serum. But I don't know if it's good for your cells

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In theory, any serum should be able to stop trypsin.

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I have cells that use horse serum in their media and that sufficiently stops the trypsin. I would just be worried about the affect a different serum could have on the cells you are working with.

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is it possible to use bovine serum albumin?

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Doesn't sound like something that would work.
Can't you maybe borrow some from another lab and promise to give them back some serum when yours finally comes in?

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serum contains trypsin inhibitors and inhibits trypsin when added . BSA is just a protein in the serum and it cannot inhibit trypsin.

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I agree with SHIVA, I have always used Foetal calf serum to stop trypsin. so don worry!

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HI VMS,
i have a small crazy idea, u can dilute the trypsin 1:3-5 times with ice cold PBS after trypsinisation of cells and immediately spin at 4C.
1-coz of cold PBS temparature enzyme activity will go down
2-coz of dilution factor enzyme cant work efficiently
and u can get rid off the trypsin after trypsinisation. this is very cheap procedure, but one has to validate this idea.

DEAR forum members, u can make comments about this idea.
looking forward for your replies.

thanks
payeli.

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I think payeli's idea of diluting trypsin in PBS and then centrifuging to remove the trypsin seems sensible.

Also one has to resuspend the cells after trypsinisation, back in the medium and this would normally contain serum which should inhibit the trypsin.

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