Why is beta-mercaptoethanol used in cell culture?

Gibco® 2-Mercaptoethanol (also known as beta-mercaptoethanol or BME) is a potent reducing agent used in cell culture medium to prevent toxic levels of oxygen radicals. Mercaptoethanol is not stable in solution so most protocols require daily supplementation.

Why beta-mercaptoethanol is used in RNA extraction?

BME is used in some RNA isolation procedures to eliminate ribonuclease (RNAses) released during cell lysis. Numerous disulfide bonds make RNAses very stable enzymes, therefore BME is used to reduce these disulfide bonds and irreversibly denature the proteins.

How do you store beta-mercaptoethanol?

Store in a tightly closed container in a cool, dry area that is well ventilated, such as a vented cabinet. Do not store on shelf. Store in a secondary container by itself. Compounds incompatible with Beta Mercaptoethanol are oxidizers, acids, metals, and ignition sources.

How is 2-Mercaptoethanol prepared?

1. Equipment: 100 ml beaker. Stir plate and bar. 100 ml bottle (sterile) 0.2 μm filter (sterile)
2. Reagents: 0.349 ml. 2-Mercaptoethanol (1.12 g/ml, Sigma #M-7522) 99.651 ml.
3. Method: 1) Combine all ingredients and mix well. 2) 0.2 μm sterile filter into sterile container. Stock concentration = 5×10-2 M.

Is 2-mercaptoethanol the same as beta-mercaptoethanol?

2-Mercaptoethanol also known as beta-mercaptoethanol is a potent reducing agent used in cell culture media to prevent toxic levels of oxygen radicals. 2-Mercaptoethanol is not stable in solution, so most protocols require daily supplementation.

How toxic is beta-mercaptoethanol?

BME can be toxic if ingested, and fatal if inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Vapors can irritate the eyes, mucous membranes, and respiratory tract. Symptoms of inhalation exposure may include coughing, sore throat, and/or shortness of breath.

How long is beta-mercaptoethanol stable?

1 month
Beta-Mercaptoethanol (ß-ME) is stable for 1 month, but Buffer RLT itself is stable for at least 9 months at room temperature (15 to 25°C).

What does 2-mercaptoethanol smell like?

2-mercaptoethanol is a clear, colorless liquid with an unpleasant odor (similar to rotten eggs). It is commonly used in the lab to reduce disulfide bonds and can act as a scavenger for hydroxyl radicals.

Is 2-mercaptoethanol acidic or basic?

2-Mercaptoethanol

What exact beta-mercaptoethanol does?

The role of beta-mercaptoethanol is to break all the disulfide bonds and denature the protein of interest.

When to use 2-mercaptoethanol in stem cell cultures?

“Old” (presumably oxidized) solutions of BME or ATG work as well as freshly prepared solutions. See Exp. Hemat. (1975) 3: 32-43 for details. Most research groups use 2-mercaptoethanol or beta mercaptoethanol in stem cell and progenitor cell assays such as the erythroid colony assay mentioned by Fritz Sieber.

What kind of reducing agent is beta mercaptoethanol?

For instance the insulinoma cell lines require beta-mercaptoethanol for its growth since the glutathione pool is highly oxidized. Suspension cell lines like PML cells and hybridomas also sometimes required added reducing agents for proper cell growth.

What is the use of 2-mercaptoethanol in electrophoresis?

2-Mercaptoethanol, for molecular biology, for electrophoresis, suitable for cell culture, BioReagent, 99% (GC/titration) 2-Mercaptoethanol, PharmaGrade, Manufactured under appropriate controls for use as raw material in pharma or biopharmaceutical production.

Can a monothioacetal be prepared from 2-mercaptoethanol?

Monothioacetals are commonly prepared from 2-mercaptoethanol using strongly acidic conditions. Various catalysts are reported that avoid these harsh conditions. These catalysts are used with 2-mercaptoethanol or propanol and are highly selective for aldehydes over ketones.