Trypsin-EDTA Solution

A Trypsin-EDTA Solution is a standard biochemical reagent used in cell culture to detach and dissociate adherent cells from culture vessels.

Key Components & Function

• Trypsin: A porcine- or bovine-derived serine protease that cleaves peptide bonds at the C-terminal side of lysine and arginine residues, breaking down cell-to-substrate and cell-to-cell protein attachments.
• EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid): A chelating agent that binds free calcium and magnesium ions, which are required for cell adhesion molecules (like cadherins) to function, thereby boosting trypsin’s proteolytic efficiency.
• Buffer System: Typically formulated in a balanced salt solution such as PBS (Phosphate-Buffered Saline) or HBSS (Hanks’ Balanced Salt Solution), occasionally with phenol red as a pH indicator.

Common Applications

• Cell Passaging: Detaching monolayers of cells for subculturing.
• Single-Cell Suspensions: Disaggregating tissues or primary cell clumps for flow cytometry, counting, or seeding.
• Termination: Enzymatic action is typically stopped (neutralized) by adding serum-containing medium (such as FBS) or a dedicated trypsin inhibitor (like soybean trypsin inhibitor).