<h2 data-section-id="1ebaq4d" data-start="165" data-end="199">What are transfection reagents?</h2>
&nbsp;
Transfection reagents enable the delivery of exogenous nucleic acids &mdash; plasmid DNA, mRNA, siRNA/shRNA, and CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoprotein or plasmid components &mdash; into cultured cells for applications spanning gene expression studies, gene silencing, CRISPR-based gene editing, recombinant protein production, and stable cell line development. Delivery methods fall into three categories: chemical methods (cationic lipid/lipofection reagents, polymeric agents like polyethyleneimine/PEI, and calcium phosphate co-precipitation), physical methods (electroporation and biolistic particle delivery), and viral methods (transduction via lentiviral, adenoviral, or AAV vectors, the only category where "transduction" is the technically correct term). Each category includes multiple specific reagents with different optimal nucleic acid types, cell type compatibility, and transient-versus-stable expression outcomes.
&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">What you will find:</h2>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" role="presentation">DNAfectin&trade; Plus Transfection Reagent: innovative lipid-based reagent for rapid transfection in common adherent cell lines; fewer handling steps, and works in complete growth media</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" role="presentation">Susfectin&trade; Transfection Reagent: polymer-based reagents formulated for suspension cultures, providing highly efficient nucleic acid delivery&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" role="presentation">Transfection Reagent: designed for faster and more reliable concentration of lentiviral particles from cell culture supernatant </li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<h2 data-section-id="f5ej1k" data-start="1475" data-end="1513">How to choose transfection reagents</h2>
&nbsp;
Chemical: lipofection
Cationic lipid (lipofection) reagents form positively charged complexes with nucleic acids that interact with the negatively charged cell membrane, enabling entry primarily via endocytosis. Examples include DOTMA-based formulations and product lines such as Lipofectamine and X-tremeGENE, suitable for a diverse range of cell lines with DNA, small RNA, and CRISPR/Cas9 components. Lipid transfections adapt well to cost-effective and high-throughput formats but are generally cell-type-specific in optimal performance &mdash; a reagent validated on one line may need re-optimization for another.
Chemical: PEI and calcium phosphate
Polyethyleneimine (PEI) is a polymeric transfection agent that, like cationic lipids, forms complexes with DNA for cell membrane interaction &mdash; commonly used for high-yield transient transfection in suspension cultures for recombinant protein production. Calcium phosphate co-precipitation is a long-established method (Graham &amp; van der Eb, 1973) that remains highly efficient for a wide range of cell types and molecules, suitable for both transient and stable transfection, though the process can be harsher on sensitive cell lines, leading to increased cell death in some cases.
Physical: electroporation
Electroporation exposes cells to electrical pulses that create temporary membrane pores, allowing direct entry of DNA, RNA, and other molecules &mdash; an easy, non-chemical technique yielding high efficiency across diverse cell types. Optimization centers on three parameters: pulse voltage, pulse width, and pulse number, with the goal of maintaining 40-80% cell survival. Electroporation requires roughly five-fold more cells and DNA than calcium phosphate methods, typically 1-5 &micro;g DNA per 10⁷ cells, with good linear correlation between DNA amount and uptake.
Viral transduction enhancers
For viral transduction (lentiviral, adenoviral, AAV), polybrene and DEAE-dextran are polycations that minimize electrostatic repulsion between negatively charged viral particles and cell membranes, enhancing transduction efficiency. FBS has been shown to yield better transduction efficiency than bovine calf serum in some transduction protocols &mdash; a media-composition detail relevant to viral workflows specifically.
Selecting reagent for nucleic acid type
Some reagents are specifically optimized for plasmid DNA (Effectene, TransIT-X2), while others (Lipofectamine RNAiMAX) are designed for small oligonucleotides like siRNA. Co-transfection of multiple nucleic acid types may require protocols and ratios validated specifically for that combination rather than direct extrapolation from single-nucleic-acid optimization.
Pre-transfection cell preparation
Regardless of method, cells should be at least 90% viable and have recovered at least 24 hours post-subculture before transfection. Cell density must avoid both contact inhibition (too high, reducing uptake) and insufficient cell-cell contact (too low, reducing growth) &mdash; both extremes reduce efficiency.
&nbsp;
<h2 data-section-id="1fljvas" data-start="5389" data-end="5414">Specifications context</h2>
&nbsp;
Electroporation optimization targets 40-80% post-pulse cell survival across a parameter space of pulse voltage, width, and number, with typical DNA loading of 1-5 &micro;g per 10⁷ cells showing linear uptake correlation within that range. Calcium phosphate transfection (Graham &amp; van der Eb, 1973) remains a foundational method still in active use for both transient and stable transfection across many cell types. As of 2026, lipid-based reagents remain the default first choice for adherent cell line transfection due to ease of use, with electroporation and viral transduction reserved for hard-to-transfect primary/stem cells and applications requiring stable genomic integration respectively.
<a href="https://mbpinc.net/contact-us">Contact the expert team </a>at MBP and find premium transfection reagents for your lab today.

Transfection Reagents

MSDS

DNAfectin™ Plus Transfection Reagent

G2500 by Applied Biological Materials (ABM) is DNAfectin™ Plus Transfection Reagent (1.0 mL), a polycation-liposome combination for plasmid DNA transfection in adherent mammalian cells (HeLa, 293T, COS-7, primary cells) — serum-compatible, low cytotoxicity, co-transfection capable, and validated for 96-well and 384-well HTS formats. Store at 4°C; stable 10 days at RT.

Unit Quantity

Application

Storage Condition

Shipping Condition

<h2>What Are Nucleases?</h2>
&nbsp;
Nucleases are enzymes that cleave phosphodiester bonds between nucleotide subunits in nucleic acids. Deoxyribonucleases (DNases) act on DNA; ribonucleases (RNases) act on RNA; and some nucleases (S1 Nuclease, Mung Bean Nuclease) act on both single-stranded DNA and RNA. Nucleases are further divided into endonucleases, which cleave internal phosphodiester bonds, and exonucleases, which progressively remove nucleotides from the 5' or 3' terminus of a strand. Major research nucleases include DNase I (non-specific endonuclease for both ss- and ds-DNA), RNase A (cleaves single-stranded RNA at pyrimidine residues), RNase H (degrades the RNA strand of RNA: DNA hybrids), Exonuclease III (removes nucleotides from 3'-recessed or blunt ends of duplex DNA), S1 Nuclease (degrades single-stranded DNA or RNA), and RNase R (degrades linear RNA but not circular RNA). Match the nuclease to the substrate type (single-stranded vs. double-stranded, DNA vs. RNA), the directionality required (endo vs. exo), and cofactor compatibility with your reaction buffer.
&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">What you will find:</h2>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
PureRec RNase A (Recombinant): A ribonuclease free of animal-derived components, designed for the swift elimination of RNA from DNA samples, ensuring no threat of viral contamination.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
DNase I Set (RNase-free): A highly effective endonuclease formulated for complete DNA digestion in delicate RNA applications while preserving the integrity of the transcript.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
PureRec Duplex-Specific Nuclease (DSN): A unique enzyme designed to equalize high-abundance transcripts, greatly enhancing the identification of rare variants in cDNA libraries.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
RNase R: A distinctive 3'-to-5' exoribonuclease that breaks down linear RNA but preserves circular RNA forms, crucial for the identification of circRNA.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
RNaseOFF Inhibitor: A strong protein-based barrier that counteracts a wide range of RNases, maintaining the delicate transcriptional environment of your samples.
</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<h2>How to Choose Nucleases</h2>
&nbsp;
DNase selection
DNase I (bovine pancreatic, recombinant) non-specifically cleaves both single- and double-stranded DNA in the presence of Mg2+ (random cleavage) or Mn2+ (double-strand cuts at approximately the same position on both strands). Use RNase-free DNase I for RNA preparations to remove genomic DNA contamination. Use Plasmid-Safe ATP-Dependent DNase to selectively degrade linear double-stranded DNA while preserving supercoiled and relaxed circular plasmid DNA. Baseline-ZERO DNase is optimized for the complete removal of trace DNA without damaging RNA.
RNase selection
RNase A cleaves single-stranded RNA at pyrimidine (C and U) residues to produce 3'-pyrimidine nucleotides; it is used to remove RNA from DNA preps, to perform RNase protection assays, and to analyze RNA secondary structure. RNase H degrades the RNA strand of RNA: DNA duplexes and is used after first-strand cDNA synthesis to remove the mRNA template. RNase R (3'-&gt;5' exoribonuclease) degrades all linear RNA without affecting circular RNA, and is used in circular RNA enrichment workflows and to characterize circular RNA splice junctions. Terminator 5'-Phosphate-Dependent Exonuclease (Terminator) digests linear RNA with a 5'-monophosphate, enriching for capped mRNA or circular RNA.
Exonuclease selection
Exonuclease III (Exo III) removes nucleotides from the 3' terminus of duplex DNA and generates single-stranded regions used in unidirectional nested deletions, mapping regulatory elements, and generating single-stranded templates for sequencing. Exonuclease I (Exo I) digests single-stranded DNA in the 3'-&gt;5' direction and is used after PCR to remove unincorporated primers before Sanger sequencing. Lambda Exonuclease removes nucleotides from 5'-phosphorylated duplex DNA in the 5'-&gt;3' direction and is used in isothermal amplification and strand displacement workflows.
Cofactor and inhibitor sensitivity
DNase I requires Mg2+ or Ca2+ for activity and is completely inhibited by EDTA at a 5 mM concentration. RNase A is active across a wide pH range (optimum 7.0-7.5) and is exceptionally stable; inactivation requires proteinase K digestion, phenol-chloroform extraction, or RNase inhibitor protein. RNase H requires Mg2+; RNase R requires Mg2+ and is most active between 37-50 degrees C.
Purity and application grade
For RNA-focused applications, all nucleases used on DNA substrates must be certified RNase-free. For DNA-focused work, DNase-free grades of RNases are required. Confirm lot-specific QC contamination data from the manufacturer before use in sensitive workflows.
&nbsp;
<h2>Specifications Context</h2>
&nbsp;
DNase I activity is expressed in Kunitz units: 1 unit increases A260 by 0.001 per minute per mL during DNA hydrolysis at pH 5.0. RNase A activity is expressed as the amount of enzyme hydrolyzing 50% of an RNA substrate under defined conditions; it remains active at a wide range of temperatures and is notoriously difficult to inactivate (requires boiling in SDS, proteinase K digestion, or phenol-chloroform extraction). RNase R from E. coli degrades linear RNA processively in the 3'-&gt;5' direction and is used at 2-10 U per microgram of total RNA to enrich for circular RNA species. RNase R treatment before library construction is the standard method for circular RNA sequencing (circRNA-seq) workflows on both short-read and long-read platforms. For protecting RNA from RNase contamination during nuclease-adjacent workflows, see&nbsp;<a href="https://mbpinc.net/reagents/molecular-biology/enzymes-and-inhibitors">RNase inhibitors</a>&nbsp;in the parent Enzymes and Inhibitors category.
&nbsp;
Safeguard your molecular images&mdash;<a href="https://mbpinc.net/contact-us">reach out to the MBP team</a> now to obtain a quote for our sophisticated nucleases and inhibitors.

Nucleases

DataSheet

DNase I

Concentration

Note

Caution

MSDS - DNase I (RNase-Free)

DNase I (RNAse-Free)

<h2>What is Chemicals as a reagent category?</h2>
&nbsp;
Chemicals covers the broad range of chemical and biochemical reagents used across molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry, and general laboratory work: biochemically relevant compounds like vitamins, buffer salts, amino acids, and enzyme substrates; general laboratory chemicals including solvents, acids, bases, and inorganic salts; and research-grade specialty chemicals for specific applications. Unlike application-specific categories such as Epigenetics or Electrophoresis, which organize reagents by research workflow, Chemicals organizes by the nature of the material itself.
&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">What you'll Discover:</h2>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<a href="https://mbpinc.net/reagents/chemicals/biochemical-reagents" title="Biochemical Reagents:">Biochemical Reagents:</a> High-quality metabolic inducers such as IPTG (G116), L-Arabinose (A2001-ZYM), and Cumate (CH065), along with essential buffers and enzyme stabilizers like TRIS (CH059), DTT (G025), and PMSF (G034).
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<a href="https://mbpinc.net/reagents/chemicals/inorganic-reagents-and-compounds" title="Inorganic Reagents &amp; Compounds:">Inorganic Reagents &amp; Compounds:</a> Ultra-pure essential chemical substances like Sodium Azide (CH052) designed for accurate laboratory buffer enhancement and sample conservation methodologies.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<a href="https://mbpinc.net/reagents/chemicals/detergents-and-surfactants" title="Detergents &amp; Surfactants:">Detergents &amp; Surfactants:</a> Enhanced cell lysis and denaturing agents featuring 20% SDS (CH100) and concentrated 10X Tris-Glycine-SDS Buffer (CH125) for protein electrophoresis setup.
</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<h2>How to navigate Chemicals</h2>
&nbsp;
Start with Biochemical Reagents for biologically relevant compounds
Biochemical Reagents covers the subset of the catalog most relevant to molecular and cell biology workflows: vitamins and cofactors, buffer salts and ready-to-use buffer solutions, amino acids, and other compounds with specific roles in biological systems.
Check purity grade requirements before ordering a research chemical
Research-grade chemicals vary in purity from technical grade to ACS-certified, HPLC-grade, and molecular biology grade, with the appropriate grade depending on how the chemical is used; cell culture and enzymatic applications generally require higher purity than non-biological analytical or general lab use.
Confirm whether your chemical needs are better served by a specialty category
Some research chemicals belong more naturally in application-specific sections of the catalog, such as chromatin immunoprecipitation buffers in Epigenetics or gel running buffers in Electrophoresis, while general-purpose chemicals and biochemical reagents not tied to a single workflow type belong in this Chemicals branch.
Consider bulk ordering for high-consumption research chemicals
Common research chemicals like buffer salts, solvents, and vitamins are used in large quantities by active research labs, and bulk pricing can represent meaningful savings on frequently replenished reagents.
Look for certificates of analysis when accuracy matters for your application
Quantitative applications, including analytical standards, enzyme kinetics studies, and defined cell culture supplementation, require chemicals with documented lot-specific purity and concentration, typically confirmed by certificate of analysis provided with each lot.
&nbsp;
<h2>Specifications context</h2>
&nbsp;
Research-grade purity designations for laboratory chemicals follow widely adopted convention systems including ACS grade (meets American Chemical Society purity specifications), HPLC grade (verified purity for chromatographic applications), and molecular biology grade (certified free from nuclease, protease, and other activities that would interfere with molecular biology applications). As of 2026, pre-made, ready-to-use solutions for common biochemical reagents like PBS, HEPES buffer, and Tris-HCl continue to see growing adoption over powder or concentrated formats in labs prioritizing convenience and reproducibility over reagent cost per use.
<a href="https://mbpinc.net/contact-us">Reach out to the friendly team at MBP</a> now to get a quote for your particular research needs.

Chemicals

Guarantee

Shipping condition

<h2 data-section-id="1h8mvlk" data-start="0" data-end="45">What are primary cell culture medium kits?</h2>
&nbsp;
Primary cell culture medium kits are complete, ready-to-prepare culture systems that combine a cell-type-specific basal medium with the supplements required for optimal growth and maintenance of primary cells. Unlike purchasing media, serum, growth factors, and antibiotics separately, these kits provide all components in validated proportions, ensuring that the medium performs as intended for a specific primary cell type.
A typical kit includes a basal medium, a cell-specific growth supplement, an antibiotic component where appropriate, and fetal bovine serum (FBS) or an equivalent supplement when required. The components are designed to be combined directly according to the manufacturer's instructions, reducing preparation errors and improving consistency between experiments.
&nbsp;
<h2 data-path-to-node="5">What you will find:</h2>
&nbsp;
<ul data-path-to-node="6">
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
Tissue-specific primary cell culture medium kits
</li>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
Specialized growth media for endothelial and epithelial cells
</li>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
Workflow systems for thawing, plating, and maintenance of hepatocytes&nbsp;
</li>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
Differentiation media for progenitor and stem cells&nbsp;
</li>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
Serum-free bioprocessing and cryopreservation reagents
</li>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
Targeted fibroblast, smooth muscle, and myocyte growth kits
</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<h2 data-section-id="1nip7jz" data-start="1066" data-end="1116">How to choose a primary cell culture medium kit</h2>
&nbsp;
Match the kit to the cell type
Primary cells have highly specialized nutritional and signaling requirements. Kits are available for endothelial cells, hepatocytes, astrocytes, epithelial cells, fibroblasts, stem cells, and many other cell types. Selecting a kit specifically designed for the target cell type is essential for maintaining normal cellular function and morphology.
Serum-containing vs. serum-free formulations
Traditional kits often include FBS as a source of growth factors and nutrients. Serum-free and xeno-free kits replace animal-derived components with defined supplements, reducing variability and supporting applications that require animal-component-free culture conditions.
Complete kit convenience
Most kits provide all major components needed to prepare complete culture medium. This eliminates the need to source multiple reagents individually and helps ensure that supplements are used at the correct concentrations.
Antibiotic inclusion
Many primary cell culture kits include antibiotics to reduce contamination risk during routine culture. However, some specialized formulations, particularly those designed for immune cells and mononuclear cells, are intentionally supplied without antibiotics because these additives can influence cellular responses and experimental outcomes.
Storage and preparation
Kit components are typically stored separately until needed. Basal media and supplements are usually refrigerated, while serum components may require frozen storage before use. Once mixed into complete medium, shelf life is generally shorter than that of the individual components, making it advisable to prepare only the amount needed for near-term use.
Specialized differentiation systems
Some kits are designed not only for maintenance but also for cellular differentiation. These systems may include multiple supplements added sequentially throughout a protocol to guide stem cells or progenitor cells through defined developmental stages.
<h2 data-section-id="dydsco" data-start="3131" data-end="3173">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 data-section-id="1fljvas" data-start="4061" data-end="4086">Specifications context</h2>
&nbsp;
Primary cell culture medium kits are commonly supplied in a format consisting of a basal medium bottle accompanied by concentrated supplements and serum components that are added directly before use. This approach simplifies preparation while ensuring that all components have been optimized and tested together.
<a href="https://mbpinc.net/contact-us" title="Contact the expert team at MBP">Contact the expert team at MBP</a> today and get optimized primary cell culture medium kits for your lab.

Primary Cell Culture Medium kits

Dendritic Cell Differentiation Medium

TM008 by Applied Biological Materials (ABM) is a complete, ready-to-use Dendritic Cell Differentiation Medium (250 mL) for generating monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs) from CD14+ monocytes — all growth factors and supplements included, QC-tested for sterility, pH, osmolality, endotoxin, morphology, and metabolic function. Store at 2–8°C.

Sterility

Appearance

Disclaimer

<h2 data-section-id="1go10h8" data-start="173" data-end="215">What are classic cell culture media?</h2>
&nbsp;
Classic cell culture media refers to the foundational basal medium formulations that have underpinned mammalian cell culture since the mid-20th century: DMEM (Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium), MEM (Minimum Essential Medium), RPMI 1640, Ham's Nutrient Mixtures F-10 and F-12, IMDM (Iscove's Modified Dulbecco's Medium), and the combination formulation DMEM/F-12. Each is manufactured according to its originally published formula, with modifications limited to those necessary for consistent performance and stability of the medium over its shelf life. These media supply the amino acids, vitamins, glucose, salts, and (in most formulations) phenol red pH indicator that form the nutritional backbone of essentially all subsequent specialty, serum-free, and Advanced media derivatives.
&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">What you will find:</h2>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Selective Mammalian Antibiotics including Puromycin, Geneticin, and Hygromycin B for stable development of cell lines.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Broad-Spectrum Bactericidal Agents for routine contamination prevention, including Penicillin/Streptomycin and Gentamicin&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Prokaryotic Selection Reagents for effective bacterial transformation, including Ampicillin, Kanamycin, Chloramphenicol, and Tetracycline&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Antifungal and Antimycotic Solutions to maintain sterile cultures, including combined 100X cocktails and Amphotericin B (Fungizone)&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Specialized Small Molecules for targeted biochemical assays, including Ganciclovir, Rapamycin, and Actinomycin D&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<h2 data-section-id="1mfajxk" data-start="1218" data-end="1252">How to choose a classic medium</h2>
&nbsp;
DMEM vs MEM
DMEM contains up to four times the amino acid and vitamin concentration of original Eagle's MEM, along with higher glucose levels, making it suitable for cell types with elevated nutrient demands &mdash; DMEM is broadly applicable across mammalian, insect, and plant cell phenotypes including primary cells, stem cells, and transformed lines. MEM remains widely used for monolayer culture of many standard cell types, with optional Hanks' or Earle's salt formulations and a calcium-free modification that permits suspension growth.
RPMI 1640 for suspension and hematopoietic culture
RPMI 1640, developed at the Roswell Park Memorial Institute for culturing human leukemic cells, is optimized for non-adherent cell types &mdash; lymphocytes and other blood cells &mdash; and contains glutathione plus higher biotin, B12, and PABA concentrations than DMEM or MEM. Despite its hematopoietic origin, RPMI 1640 supports a broad range of adherent lines (HeLa, T47D, RENCA, CT26.WT) when properly supplemented.
Ham's F-10/F-12 for CHO and specialized applications
Ham's nutrient mixtures were originally developed for CHO cell clones, HeLa cells, and mouse L-cells, and remain suited to hepatocyte culture, viral fusion experiments, and toxicity assays, with formulations available for use with or without serum. Coon's modification of Ham's F-12 roughly doubles the amino acid and pyruvate content and adds ascorbic acid, developed specifically for hybrid cells produced by viral fusion.
DMEM/F-12 for complex, rich-medium applications
DMEM/F-12 (1:1 mixture) combines DMEM's glucose, amino acid, and vitamin richness with Ham's F-12's zinc, putrescine, hypoxanthine, and thymidine, producing an extremely rich complex medium used for MDCK cells, glial cells, fibroblasts, and human endothelial cells &mdash; and serving as the basal medium for many serum-free Advanced formulations used in organoid and stem cell work.
IMDM for high-density rapid proliferation
IMDM further enriches DMEM with additional amino acids and vitamins, substituting potassium nitrate for ferric nitrate and adding HEPES and sodium pyruvate. IMDM's sodium bicarbonate buffer system (5&ndash;10% CO₂) and enriched composition make it well suited for rapidly proliferating, high-density cultures including Jurkat, COS-7, and macrophage cells.
Liquid vs. powder format
Liquid classic media are ready to use (after appropriate FBS and supplement addition) and include sodium bicarbonate in the formulation. Powdered media are manufactured without sodium bicarbonate, since it tends to off-gas in powder form &mdash; 3.7 g/L sodium bicarbonate must be added upon reconstitution, followed by sterile filtration. Powder formats offer cost and shipping-weight advantages for high-volume labs preparing their own media.
&nbsp;
<h2 data-section-id="17i0pj" data-start="5035" data-end="5061">Specifications context</h2>
&nbsp;
Classic media are manufactured according to originally published formulas, with stability-related modifications documented per product. DMEM's sodium bicarbonate buffer system at 3.7 g/L is standard across liquid formulations; powdered formats require this addition upon reconstitution along with 0.22 &micro;m sterile filtration. As of 2026, DMEM, DMEM/F-12, and RPMI 1640 remain the three most widely specified classic media across academic and biomanufacturing labs, with IMDM increasingly used for high-density suspension applications in bioprocessing.
For recombinant growth factors and cytokines used alongside classic media, see Recombinant Proteins. For supplementation reagents (GlutaMAX, NEAA, sodium pyruvate, HEPES), see Cell Culture Supplements &amp; Additives. Browse Mammalian Cell Culture for the broader category.
<a href="https://mbpinc.net/contact-us">Contact the expert team </a>at MBP to get highly efficient microbial control solutions for your lab.

Antibiotics

Doxycycline

<h2>What Are Restriction Enzymes?</h2>
&nbsp;
Restriction enzymes are endonucleases originally isolated from bacteria, where they function as a primitive immune defense against foreign DNA (such as bacteriophages) by cleaving at specific recognition sequences. Over 3,500 Type II restriction enzymes have been characterized, recognizing palindromic or asymmetric sequences of 4-8 base pairs and generating either 5' overhangs (sticky ends), 3' overhangs, or blunt ends. The systematic naming convention reflects enzyme origin: EcoRI comes from Escherichia coli strain R; HindIII from Haemophilus influenzae strain Rd. Restriction enzymes are grouped into Types I, II, III, and IV based on cofactor requirements, cleavage site position, and structural complexity; Type II enzymes are almost exclusively used in research applications due to their defined cleavage positions. Choose restriction enzymes based on the recognition sequence present in your target, the end type required (sticky vs. blunt), and whether Golden Gate Assembly or conventional cloning is planned.
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">What you will find:</h2>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Enterokinase Cleavage Enzyme: A specific mammalian-produced protease for precise affinity tag removal from recombinant fusion proteins.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
DpnI: A specialized enzyme targeting methylated GATC sequences, ideal for template digestion in site-directed mutagenesis.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Tn5 Transposase for Tagmentation: A high-efficiency enzyme for simultaneous DNA fragmentation and adapter ligation in NGS library construction.
</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<h2>How to Choose Restriction Enzymes</h2>
&nbsp;
Type IIP vs. Type IIS
Type IIP enzymes (EcoRI, HindIII, BamHI, NcoI, NheI) recognize palindromic sequences and cut within or immediately adjacent to the site, making them the standard choice for conventional restriction cloning using compatible cohesive ends. Type IIS enzymes (BsaI, BsmBI/Esp3I, SapI) cut at a fixed distance outside their recognition sequence, generating custom 4-nt overhangs that can be designed to create any desired sequence at the assembly junction -- the basis of Golden Gate Assembly, which allows ordered multi-fragment cloning in a single tube.
Recognition sequence frequency
4-cutter enzymes (MboI, AluI, TaqI) cut on average every 256 bp and are used for genome-wide restriction mapping or chromatin fragmentation. 6-cutters (EcoRI, HindIII) cut every ~4,000 bp on average and are standard for plasmid cloning. 8-cutters (NotI, PacI, AscI) cut rarely (every ~65,000 bp) and are used for mapping of large genomic regions or release of large inserts from BAC or YAC vectors.
Star activity sensitivity
Restriction enzymes can exhibit relaxed sequence specificity (star activity) at suboptimal conditions: excess glycerol (&gt;5%), non-standard buffers, extended digestion times, or non-standard divalent cations. High-fidelity (HF) enzyme variants reduce star activity by more than 1000-fold and are recommended for long digestion times or when high specificity is critical for downstream cloning.
Isoschizomers and compatible ends
Isoschizomers recognize the same sequence as a reference enzyme; neoschizomers recognize the same sequence but cut at a different position. BamHI (GGATCC, 5' overhang G) is compatible with BglII (AGATCT) overhangs and with MboI and Sau3AI overhangs -- useful for directional cloning strategies without re-engineering sites. Check isoschizomer tables before designing multi-enzyme cloning strategies.
Buffer compatibility
Most suppliers have rationalized their enzyme buffers into 2-4 universal buffer systems (e.g., CutSmart, Buffer 3.1, FastDigest buffers) that support the majority of enzymes, enabling double digestion without buffer exchange. Verify buffer compatibility before combining two restriction enzymes in a single tube.
&nbsp;
<h2>Specifications Context</h2>
&nbsp;
Restriction enzyme activity is defined as the amount of enzyme required to digest 1 microgram of lambda phage DNA (or substrate specified by the manufacturer) to completion in 1 hour at 37 degrees C in 50 microliters total volume. FastDigest enzyme formats complete digestion in 5-15 minutes at 37 degrees C, using a universal buffer. Heat inactivation is possible for most enzymes at 65-80 degrees C for 20 minutes, though some enzymes (NheI, SpeI, BstEII) are not heat-inactivatable and require column cleanup before downstream ligation. Over 3,500 Type II restriction enzymes are characterized in the REBASE database; commercially available catalogues cover approximately 200-300 common enzymes. For ligating restriction-digested fragments, see&nbsp;<a href="https://mbpinc.net/reagents/molecular-biology/enzymes-and-inhibitors/dna-modifying-enzymes">DNA-modifying enzymes</a> for T4 DNA Ligase and alkaline phosphatase.
&nbsp;
Refine your genomic editing&mdash;<a href="https://mbpinc.net/contact-us">contact the MBP team</a> today to request a quote for our high-fidelity enzymes.

Restriction Enzymes

DpnI

<h2 data-section-id="185nm5c" data-start="0" data-end="38">What is classic cell culture media?</h2>
&nbsp;
Classic cell culture media refers to the foundational basal medium formulations that have underpinned mammalian cell culture for decades, including DMEM (Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium), MEM (Minimum Essential Medium), RPMI 1640, Ham's F-10, Ham's F-12, IMDM (Iscove's Modified Dulbecco's Medium), and DMEM/F-12. These media provide the amino acids, vitamins, glucose, salts, buffering agents, and other nutrients required to support cell survival and growth in vitro. They form the basis of many modern specialized, serum-free, and advanced media formulations used in academic research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, and biomanufacturing.
&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">What you will find:</h2>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" aria-level="1">
&nbsp;Availability of both low and high carbohydrate levels of balanced basal formulations for the distinct metabolic requirements of diverse mammalian cell lines.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" aria-level="1">
Maintenance of precise physiological pH during long-term incubation cycles using optimized buffering configurations with integrated chemical stabilizers&nbsp;
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" aria-level="1">
Nutrient-dense cell media supplemented with vitamins and essential amino acids to support&nbsp; hybridomas and rapidly proliferating continuous cultures
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" aria-level="1">
Optimized serum reduction along with enhanced cell attachment using&nbsp;Multi-purpose 1:1 formulation hybrids&nbsp;
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" aria-level="1">
Salt solutions supplemented with essential minerals to facilitate enzyme preparation, cell washing, and reliable short-term osmotic maintenance.
</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<h2 data-section-id="1blio5n" data-start="931" data-end="964">How to choose a classic medium</h2>
&nbsp;
DMEM vs MEM
DMEM contains up to four times the amino acids and vitamins found in MEM, along with higher glucose concentrations, making it suitable for cell types with elevated nutrient demands. It is widely used for primary cells, stem cells, and many transformed mammalian cell lines. MEM, based on the original Eagle's formulation, remains a common choice for standard monolayer culture and is available with different salt formulations to support various applications.
RPMI 1640 for suspension and hematopoietic culture
RPMI 1640 was originally developed for culturing human leukemic cells and remains the preferred medium for lymphocytes, hybridomas, and other hematopoietic cell types. Its formulation includes glutathione and elevated levels of biotin, vitamin B12, and PABA. Although designed for suspension cultures, RPMI 1640 also supports a wide range of adherent cell lines when appropriately supplemented.
Ham's F-10/F-12 for CHO and specialized applications
Ham's nutrient mixtures were developed for CHO cells and other specialized cell types. Their formulations include additional nutrients such as zinc, putrescine, hypoxanthine, and thymidine, making them useful for hepatocyte culture, toxicity testing, viral fusion studies, and other specialized applications. These media can be used with or without serum depending on the experimental requirements.
DMEM/F-12 for complex, rich-medium applications
DMEM/F-12 combines the nutrient-rich composition of DMEM with the specialized components found in Ham's F-12. The resulting formulation supports demanding cell types including MDCK cells, glial cells, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells. It is also widely used as the foundation for many serum-free and advanced culture systems.
IMDM for high-density rapid proliferation
IMDM is an enriched derivative of DMEM that contains additional amino acids, vitamins, HEPES buffer, sodium pyruvate, and potassium nitrate. Its enhanced nutrient profile makes it particularly suitable for rapidly proliferating and high-density cultures such as Jurkat cells, COS-7 cells, and macrophages.
Liquid vs powder format
Liquid classic media are supplied ready for use after the addition of serum and required supplements. Powdered media offer lower shipping costs and greater flexibility for high-volume laboratories but require reconstitution, sodium bicarbonate addition, and sterile filtration before use.
&nbsp;
<h2 data-section-id="1fljvas" data-start="4382" data-end="4407">Specifications context</h2>
&nbsp;
Classic media are manufactured according to their original published formulations, with only stability-related modifications where necessary. Most liquid formulations contain sodium bicarbonate as the primary buffering system and require incubation in a 5&ndash;10% CO₂ atmosphere to maintain physiological pH. Powdered formulations require reconstitution, sodium bicarbonate supplementation, and sterile filtration before use.
As of 2026, DMEM, DMEM/F-12, and RPMI 1640 remain the most widely used classic cell culture media across academic, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and biomanufacturing laboratories. IMDM continues to gain popularity for high-density culture and bioprocessing applications.
For recombinant growth factors and cytokines used alongside classic media, see Recombinant Proteins. For supplementation reagents such as GlutaMAX, NEAA, sodium pyruvate, and HEPES, see Cell Culture Supplements &amp; Additives. Browse Mammalian Cell Culture for the broader category.
<a href="https://mbpinc.net/contact-us">Contact the expert team</a> at MBP today and get optimized classic media for your lab.

Classic Media

Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM), High Glucose

Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM), Low Glucose

<h2 data-section-id="xs82dy" data-start="121" data-end="167">What are additional immortalization agents?</h2>
&nbsp;
Additional immortalization agents cover recombinant lentiviral constructs delivering genes other than TERT or SV40 large T antigen used to bypass replicative senescence in primary cells, most notably HPV-16 E6/E7 (which inactivate p53 and Rb similarly to SV40T but are derived from human papillomavirus), Bmi1 (a polycomb group protein that represses the p16/CDKN2A senescence pathway), cMyc, CDK4, and HOXA/HOXB family genes. Related entities include p16/CDKN2A pathway repression (Bmi1), keratinocyte and epithelial cell immortalization (HPV E6/E7), polycomb group signaling, and combination immortalization strategies.
&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">What you will find:</h2>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lenti-HPV-16 E6/E7 degrades Rb and p53 for enhanced cell immortalization.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lenti-Myc T58A &amp; Ras V12 enhance transformation and proliferation assays with high-titer mutant oncogenes&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lenti-p53 &amp; Rb siRNA Virus extends cellular longevity and targets the knockdown of tumor suppressors</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lenti-HOX Series (RFP Tagged) for lineage-specific expansion and includes high-titer vectors like HOXB8, HOXA9, and HOXA10 vectors.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">EBV Virus (Wild-Type) for immortalization workflows of B-lymphocytes&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lenti-CDK4 &amp; Bmi1 Virus helps maintain proliferative capacity using cell mediators</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<h2 data-section-id="1acs4rs" data-start="1029" data-end="1087">How to choose additional immortalization agent products</h2>
&nbsp;
HPV E6/E7 for epithelial and keratinocyte immortalization
HPV-16 E6 and E7 proteins inactivate p53 and Rb respectively, similar in net effect to SV40 large T antigen but derived from a different viral source; E6/E7-based immortalization is particularly well-documented for keratinocytes and other epithelial cell types, and is sometimes preferred over SV40T for these lineages based on published precedent.
Bmi1 for stem and progenitor cell types
Bmi1 represses the p16/CDKN2A senescence pathway through its role in the polycomb repressive complex, and has been used to extend the proliferative capacity of hematopoietic and neural stem/progenitor cells in research settings; confirm the specific cell type has documented precedent for Bmi1-based extension before relying on it as a primary immortalization strategy.
cMyc and CDK4 as proliferation-driving factors
cMyc and CDK4 overexpression can drive proliferation and contribute to immortalization, often used in combination rather than as standalone immortalization agents; review the specific combination strategy in the source literature before ordering individual components.
E6/E7 separate vs. fused constructs
HPV E6/E7 may be delivered as separate genes or as a fused open reading frame; confirm which configuration a published protocol specifies, since this can affect relative expression levels of the two proteins.
&nbsp;
<h2 data-section-id="1fljvas" data-start="3287" data-end="3312">Specifications context</h2>
&nbsp;
Additional immortalization agent lentiviruses are typically supplied at titers around 1x10^8 TU/mL, shipped on dry ice and stored at -80&deg;C, with antibiotic or fluorescent-antibiotic fusion selection markers consistent with other immortalization lentivirus products. Pack sizes for academic labs commonly consist of small-volume aliquots sufficient for multiple transduction attempts, with constructs validated by sequencing and tested free of common contaminants.&nbsp;
This sub-category sits within MBP's cell immortalization catalog alongside TERT overexpression viruses and SV40T antigen overexpression viruses. Labs constructing custom combination vectors can also review MBP's cloning reagents. MBP's specialist team can help confirm which immortalization agent has documented precedent for a specific cell type before order placement.
<a href="https://mbpinc.net/contact-us">Contact the expert team </a>at MBP today to book high-quality immortalization vectors for your lab.