Synonym(s): MEM
General description: Minimum Essential Medium (MEM), developed by Harry Eagle, is one of the most widely used of all synthetic cell culture media. Early attempts to cultivate normal mammalian fibroblasts and certain subtypes of HeLa cells revealed they had specific nutritional requirements that could not be met by Eagle’s Basal Medium (BME). Subsequent studies using these and other cells in culture indicated additions to BME could be made to aid growth of a wider variety of fastidious cells.
MEM, which incorporates these modifications, includes higher concentrations of amino acids so the medium more closely approximates the protein composition of cultured mammalian cells. MEM has been used for cultivation of a wide variety of cells grown in monolayers. Optional supplementation of non-essential amino acids to the formulations that incorporate either Hanks’ or Earle’s salts has broadened the usefulness of this medium.
Other Notes: This product lacks L-Ala; L-Asn; L-Glu; Gly; L-Pro; L-Ser and L-Gln. It is supplemented with L-Ala-L-Gln dipeptide. This provides a more stable form of glutamine for cell culture. Free amino acid L-glutamine is known to be unstable in cell culture.
Legal Information: AQmedia is a trademark of Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC
Storage: 2-8°C
Empirical Formula (Hill Notation): C5H11NO