Mammalian cell culture is a technique used in assessing cellular characteristics in a controlled environment when working with animal cell lines. It involves providing the necessary environment for cell proliferation, growth, and differentiation. Whenever mammalian cells are cultured, an essential factor to consider is time, as it plays a significant role in ensuring a successful harvest.
In this blog post, you will explore some tips for optimizing timing in cell culture.
Know the Optimal Cell Growth Curve Phase
The cell growth curve is crucial in mammalian cell culture, and the optimal phases of growth need to be determined for the various cell lines being used. When cells are seeded, they will undergo an initial lag phase where they adjust to the new environment and nutrients and start to synthesize new proteins and enzymes. Afterward, there is the exponential phase where cells grow at an increased rate until they reach a maximum density where cell proliferation ceases or enters the stationary phase. After the stationary phase, the cells then ultimately die.
Ensure Consistency in Culture
Mammalian cells are known to grow at different rates, leading to inconsistency in culture. Ensuring that cells are uniformly cultured in the same environment with the same nutrients can eliminate this inconsistency in growth rates. This, in turn, helps to optimize timing, as researchers will get identical cell cultures at the same growth phase period.
Monitor Culture Conditions
Monitoring the environmental factors affecting the cell culture is also an essential factor that can impact the timing of cell culture. Variables such as temperature, pH levels, oxygen, and carbon dioxide concentration can all affect cell growth and, in turn, impact the timing of harvesting. Monitoring these variables and making constant adjustments can optimize the culture, leading to successful harvests.
Timing for Protein Expression
Some researchers may be interested in extracting proteins from mammalian cells to study their function in vitro. Timing is crucial when aiming to extract maximum protein yields. It’s important to note that protein synthesis, processing, and trafficking vary with time.
Therefore, the optimal time for protein expression needs to be determined by assessing and monitoring the growth curve and modifying the culture conditions.
