Learn how to use this product

Stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM), High Glucose (4.5 g/l), w/o L-Arginine, w/o L-Lysine, w/o L-Glutamine, w/o Phenol Red, is an optimized medium for labeling experiments involving the use of stable amino acid isotopes. SILAC enables a simple, robust, and powerful approach in mass spectrometry (MS) based quantitative research to explore the immense complexity of the proteome.

It is used to investigate various facets, such as protein expression, protein quantification, and protein stability, which are difficult to detect with simple mass spectrometry. SILAC labeling is accomplished via normal metabolic processes (such as cell division) by incorporating non-radioactive stable amino acid isotopes into newly synthesized proteins. In this process, the "light" amino acids in the growth medium are replaced by "heavy" ones. Cells growing in this medium take up the heavy amino acids and enable the differentiation between light and heavy proteins. These labeled target proteins can furthermore be used for protein quantification. Protein levels are measured with a mass spectrometer based on signal intensity (labeled cells appear heavier).

By providing accuracy of quantification and simplifying the interpretation of MS results, the SILAC method offers unique advantages for quantitative and functional proteomics. SILAC DMEM is formulated without L-arginine and L-lysine for multiple isotopic amino acid labeling and does not affect cell morphology or growth rates. The applications include quantitative and functional proteomics analysis of tissue generation, post-translational modifications, mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance.