Is molecular biology grade DMSO good enough for cell stock? - (Jul/11/2009 )

Hi all,

I want to make insect cell stocks. I have a bottle of molecular biology DMSO in the lab. So I'd like to know if tissue culture grade DMSO is required.


Many thanks.

zzll

zzll on Jul 12 2009, 03:33 AM said:

Molecular biology DMSO will be fine. In fact any reagent grade material will work well.

In my experience what is important is that the DMSO should not be from a partially full, old bottle, that has been hanging around the lab for years.
When DMSO is exposed to air a product (oxidation?) is formed that significantly increases it´s toxicity to cells.

I usually get a small unopened bottle, make 2 - 5 ml aliquots in tightly capped glass tubes (usually use plain blood collection tubes, "vacutainers"), and store at -20 oC.

You can always do a trial with your DMSO. Make a few vials of stock, store in liquid nitrogen for a day or so and thaw. Do a viability after overnight culture. I usually find > 80%.

Hope this helps

klinmed on Jul 12 2009, 03:28 AM said:

This really helps.

Yes, the DMSO at hand is new and never opened. But it's a good idea to make aliquots. I don't have such fancy tubes. The glass tubes in our lab are either w/o caps or culture tubes with plastic caps.

I know polyethylene is insoluble in DMSO. Has anyone tried to store DMSO in such tubes?