Amino Acids in Tissue Cell Culture
In many laboratory cell culture media formulations, crystalline amino acids are incorporated into many laboratory-scale cell culture media formulations. While this is effective on a small scale, this is not economical on a commercial scale due to the high cost of crystalline amino acids. Mixtures of amino acids obtained by the hydrolysis of various proteins can meet the amino acid requirements of cells in culture, performing the same as the traditional amino acid mixture at a significantly reduced price.
The use of some amino acids is limited by stability and solubility. L-glutamine decomposes at ambient temperature (into glutamic acid and ammonia) which may lead to shortage of this key nitrogen and energy source and to toxicity due to the ammonia release. A stable source of L-glutamine can now be provided in the form of peptides from the hydrolysis of wheat gluten or rice protein.
The uptake of amino acids requires more energy than the uptake of peptides. Consequently, cells will grow more efficiently on peptides than on free amino acids. Also more antibodies will be produced on peptides than on the equivalent free amino acid mixture. Party this is also related to the lower ammonia levels in media that contain peptides.
