One fairly well-defined reason that 2-ME is important for lymphocyte cultures is that the amino acid cysteine is in short supply in FBS, while there is plenty of cystine. T cells, for instance, are unable to transport cystine into the cytosol, where it must go to be converted into cysteine. 2-ME reduces cystine into a form that can be transported by the cells and is then converted to cysteine, and the cells live happily ever after. Andrew D. Wells, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia University of Pennsylvania (215) 590-8710 [office] (215) 590-0344 [laboratory] (215) 590-7384 [FAX] mailing address: 802 ARC 3516 Civic Center Boulevard Philadelphia, PA 19104
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