Adding some PBS to cells - (Nov/18/2008 )

Does anyone know if its ok to add PBS to cells (a very low percentrage ~0.2%) for 24 hours? I need to treat the cells with a drug but dont want to dilute the drug with media as I'm worried the FCS will tamper with the properties of the drug in question. Any help would be much appreciated!

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When you need to add a drug which can be influenced by FCS, you usually keep the cells in culture media with 0%FCS

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Thanks! Today I tried with PBS but next week I'll definately try with serum-free media. *fingers crossed*!

But will the cells be ok for 24 hours without any serum? (ie when they've been growing for 2 weeks in serum). And doesnt the fcs contain various co-factors etc required for proper protein signalling?

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Well, they won't feel ok... They will arrest without FCS. If it is a drug incorporated only by cycling cells, they won't inorporate it... I would try several concentrations of FCS.

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