Technical Data
Media
Leibowitz’s L-15 Medium w/o L-Glutamine (Powder)
L2103
Cell Culture Grade
Storage RT    Shipping RT
Components shown as mg/liter
Inorganic Salts:
Calcium Chloride•2H2O185.5
Magnesium Sulfate400
Potassium Chloride400
Potassium Phosphate Mono60
Sodium Chloride8000
Sodium Phosphate Dibasic190
Amino Acids:
L-Alanine225
L-Arginine HCl500
L-Asparagine•H2O250
L Cystine120
Glycine200
L-Histidine250
L-Isoleucine125
L-Leucine152
L-Lysine HCl93.7
L-Methionine75
L-Phenylalanine125
L-Serine200
L-Threonine300
L-Tryptophan20
L-Tyrosine•2Na•2H2O432
L-Valine100
Vitamins:
Choline Chloride1
Folic Acid1
myo-Inositol2
Niacinamide1
D-Pantothenic Acid•Ca1
Riboflavin Phosphate•Na•2H2O0.1076
Pyridoxine•HCl1
Thiamine Monophosphate•HCl1
Other:
D-Galactose900
Pyruvic Acid, Sodium550
Phenol Red, Sodium10
Total:13.9g/liter
The most commonly used buffering system for mammalian cell cultures is a bicarbonate/CO2 system, which requires CO2 regulators and incubators to supply a constant level of CO2. As a replacement, Leibovitz developed a bicarbonate-free medium, L15, with relatively high levels of certain amino acids in the free base form.

The most common method in use today for buffering mammalian cell cultures is the bicarbonate/CO2 system, which is based on the following equilibrium:
CO2 + H2O <-> HCO3" + H+
The use of bicarbonate is an attempt to mimic the buffering system of blood, but it has at least two major drawbacks. (1) The p/Q of bicarbonate is 6*1, which is far removed from the desired pH range of cell culture media (7-0-7-4). (2) Although bicarbonate is cheap, supplying a constant level of CO2 to cell cultures is definitely not, as it requires expensive CO2 incubators or fermentors.


Directions per Liter Dissolve 13.9 grams per liter of distilled/deionized (DDI) water, heating with stirring until completely solubilized, adjusting pH as necessary. Sterilize with 0.2µ membrane filter. Aliquot into sterile containers.

Storage Store at 0-5ºC (store unopened media at 2-30°C). Opened bottles should be capped tightly and kept in a dark, low humidity environment.


Important Note: This product as supplied is intended for research use only, not for use in human, therapeutic or diagnostic applications without the expressed written authorization of United States Biological.

1. Bernt, E. & Bergmeyer, H. U. (1974) Bergmeyer), p. 1304. Deerfield Beach, FL: Verlag Chemie Intl.
2. Eagle, H., Barban, S., Levy, M. & Schulze, H. O. (1958). The utilization of carbohydrates by
human cell cultures.. Biol. Chem. 233, SS1-558.
3. D. Barngrover, J. Thomas and W. G. Thilly, J. Cell Set. 78, 173-189 (1985) 173
4. Leibovitz, A. (1963) Amer. J. Hyg. 78:173-180.