Corning® glutagro™ Supplement
Frequently Asked Questions
A. Corning glutagro supplement is composed of L-alanyl-Lglutamine, an alternative and more stable version of glutamine. It provides the same support to cells in culture as
L-glutamine, but L-glutamine breaks down to ammonia
in a relatively short period of time, while Corning glutagro lasts much longer. This supplement is a more stable
form of L-glutamine.
Q. Are there any disadvantages to using Corning glutagro
supplement in place of L-glutamine?
A. Both the processing rate and the general suitability of
Corning glutagro supplement can vary by cell type. The
initial processing rate of Corning glutagro supplement
depends on the ability of a given cell to import and
process L-alanyl-L-glutamine to usable L-glutamine,
and the cell’s ability to secrete the required protease.
Moreover, cancerous cell lines may be exclusively reliant
on L-glutamine over L-alanyl-L-glutamine in a phenomenon known as the Warburg effect, which has implications
for the ability of Corning glutagro supplement to perform
as a supplement for these cells. Finally, the buildup of
L-alanine resulting from the cleavage of L-alanyl-Lglutamine may negatively affect certain cell lines. A sideby-side comparison of L-glutamine supplemented media
to media supplemented with Corning glutagro supplement
is therefore recommended to observe any phenotypic
differences. Overall, Corning glutagro supplement is better
than L-glutamine in contributing to media stability, cell
viability and cell count.
®
Q. How much longer does Corning glutagro supplement last?
A. Corning glutagro supplement has better stability because
it isn’t subject to the same chemical degradation mechanisms as L-glutamine. Corning glutagro supplement is
expected to remain practically 100% bioavailable until the
classical media’s expiration date.
Q. How long does L-glutamine last in media before breaking
down?
A. The half-life of L-glutamine varies by the physicochemical characteristics of the media itself. On average
in classical formulations, the half-life of L-glutamine
is 15-21 months. Data shows the relationship between
L-glutamine and ammonia levels in a culture environment for a standard DMEM formulation. The two levels
are inversely related over time. This is true for other
media formulations such as RPMI 1640.
Inverse relationship between Glutamine and NH4
concentration in DMEM over time
4.50
4.00
L-glutamine
3.50
Concentration
Q. What is Corning glutagro supplement and why is it
better than L-glutamine?
cellgro
3.00
2.50
2.00
1.50
1.00
Q.What is the rate at which Corning glutagro supplement
is consumed by cells compared to L-glutamine?
A. An initial lag in consumption is seen with Corning glutagro supplement as opposed to L-glutamine. This is due
to a peptidase mediated conversion of the supplement to
free L-alanine and L-glutamine, which is an additional
step in processing this supplement. Once this conversion is complete, both Corning glutagro supplement and
L-glutamine are processed at equivalent rates.
NH4
0.50
0.00
1
Months
3
5
7
13
Products with Corning® glutagro™ Supplement
Cat. No.
Description
10-101-CV
Dulbecco’s Modification of Eagle’s Medium, 1x with Corning glutagro
supplement, 4.5 g/L glucose, sodium pyruvate and phenol red
Size
Qty/Pk
500 mL
6
Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium (DMEM) is a modification of Basal Medium Eagle (BME) containing four-fold
concentrations of the amino acids and vitamins found in BME. DMEM 10-101-CV is augmented with 4.5 g/L glucose and
sodium pyruvate, and is supplemented with Corning glutagro supplement in place of L-glutamine for optimal performance.
Cat. No.
Description
10-102-CV
Dulbecco’s Modification of Eagle’s Medium, 1x with Corning glutagro
supplement, 4.5 g/L glucose, and phenol red, without sodium pyruvate
Size
Qty/Pk
500 mL
6
DMEM formulations can differ in the amount or absence of components such as glucose, sodium pyruvate, sodium
bicarbonate and L-glutamine. DMEM 10-102-CV is augmented with 4.5 g/L glucose and is supplemented with Corning
glutagro supplement in place of L-glutamine for optimal performance.
Cat. No.
Description
10-103-CV
Dulbecco’s Modification of Eagle’s Medium/Ham’s F-12 50/50 Mix
with Corning glutagro supplement and phenol red
Size
Qty/Pk
500 mL
6
This 1:1 mixture of Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium and Ham’s F-12 media is ideal for culture of a variety of cell types
under low serum conditions. Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium (DMEM) is a modification of Basal Medium Eagle (BME)
containing four-fold concentrations of the amino acids and vitamins found in BME. Ham’s F-12 media is based on Ham’s
F-10 medium with increased concentrations of choline, inositol, putrescine, and several amino acids. This formulation of
DMEM/Ham’s F-12 is supplemented with Corning glutagro supplement in place of L-glutamine for improved stability.
Cat. No.
Description
10-104-CV
RPMI 1640, 1x with Corning glutagro supplement and phenol red
Size
Qty/Pk
500 mL
6
For additional product or technical information, please visit www.cellgro.com
or call 1.800.235.5476.
Mediatech, Inc.
A Corning Subsidiary
9345 Discovery Boulevard
Manassas, VA 20109
t 800.235.5476
t 703.471.5955
f 703.467.9851
www.cellgro.com
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Named for the site at which it was developed, the Roswell Park Memorial Institute, RPMI 1640 is a modification of
McCoy’s 5A containing an increased level of inositol. Examples of cell types for which this medium is appropriate include
mammalian myeloma and hybridoma cells such as mouse hybridomas, human leukocytes, and B and T lymphocytes. RPMI
1640 is also used for suspension cultures or monolayer human leukemic cells. This formulation is supplemented with
Corning glutagro supplement in place of L-glutamine for improved stability.