Reduction of ammonia formation in cell cultures by l-alanyl-l-glutamine requires optimization of the dipeptide concentration
Abstract In cell culture media, glutamine (Gln) decomposes progressively into ammonia and 5-pyrrolidone carboxylic acid. Ammonia is toxic and reduces cell growth. The formation of ammonia is strongly decreased by using the Gln dipeptide l -alanyl- l -glutamine ( l -Ala- l -Gln). However, the effects of this dipeptide on the amount of ammonia originating from cellular Gln metabolism are not known. Growing microglial BV-2 cells in a medium containing either Gln or l -Ala- l -Gln showed that the replacement of Gln by l -Ala- l -Gln, at concentrations much below those present in commercial media, was beneficial to the cell growth. Our approach could prove advantageous in culturing various types of cells.