Trypsin

Trypsin is a proteolytic enzyme commonly used in cell culture to dissociate adherent cells from culture vessels. It cleaves peptide bonds on the carboxyl side of lysine and arginine residues in proteins, resulting in the breakdown of cell-cell and cell-substrate adhesions. Trypsin is typically used as part of a cell dissociation solution, often in combination with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), which chelates divalent cations and helps disrupt calcium-dependent cell adhesions. After treatment with trypsin, cells detach from the surface and can be harvested for various downstream applications, such as cell counting, passaging, or analysis. Trypsinization is a routine technique in cell culture laboratories and is essential for maintaining healthy and actively proliferating cell populations.