Harvesting bacteria cells - Temperature of the centrifuge (Nov/21/2008 )

Dear all,

The lab isn't equipped with a refrigerated centrifuge so I can't harvest my bacteria (unlike published works) at 4'C. Is it necessary to harvest cells at low temperature since I'm not dealing with enzymes or nucleic acids?

I plan to transfer the culture into centrifuge tubes and chill them on ice before spinning them. My worry is that the temperature will increase during the process (10000 rpm at 10 mins); hence this post.

Will be washing them with chilled PBS (pH 7.0) so I don't think there are any other factors that's detrimental to my cells. Please advice.

Thanks lots.

-jchchye-

Dont worry to much about it. Nobody really knows why people use 4C anyway

-UGA80-

You can harvest your cells at room temperature. It will be fine for general purposes.

-bacterie-

QUOTE ("UGA80")

Dont worry to much about it. Nobody really knows why people use 4C anyway

Actually it is to slow reaction rates for various proteolytic and DNA damaging enzymes released during the harvesting process. It is definitely not essential to harvest at 4 degrees though.

-bob1-

Thanks UGA80, bacterie, and bob1. Appreciate that. Doing it now.. Cheers!

-Dreamchaser-

QUOTE (Dreamchaser @ Nov 24 2008, 10:22 PM)

Thanks UGA80, bacterie, and bob1. Appreciate that. Doing it now..

Cheers!

Oh, same boat eh? My mate told me that his PI said temperature will affect the amount of cells pelleted. And that 4'C doesn't harm the cells.

So, thanks people! Been a great help to me!!

-jchchye-