Fluorescence microscopy technique for counting cell nuclei stained with propidium iodide is designed to allow the small and large labs to perform fast and automatic cell counts
Biomass and biological product produced during a fermentation process is dependent on both cell number and physiological conditions.
Whereas the physiological conditions can be controlled during fermentation, cells are mainly controlled through adjustments of initial cell concentrations.
Monitoring the cell number allows the scientist to activate inducible systems or to harvest at optimal times for optimal product yield. To facilitate fast (30 seconds) yeast cell counts, ChemoMetec has developed the NucleoCounter YC-100, which relies on a fluorescence microscopy technique for counting cell nuclei stained with propidium iodide.
Combined with a CCD camera and integrated image analysis, the compact microscope is designed to allow the small and large labs to perform fast and automatic cell counts.
In order to determine the total concentration of yeast cells, the cells are treated with a reagent.
This reagent is a lysis/disaggregation buffer and permeates the yeast cell wall and membranes, thereby allowing the cellular DNA to be stained with propidium iodide, which is safely immobilised on the inside of the NucleoCassette.
The reagent has the ability to dissociate minor cell clusters of yeast cells.
The NucleoCounter YC-100 is developed as a stand-alone instrument.
Optional and recommended is that the NucleoCounter YC-100 is connected to a computer using the NucleoView software, which offers a variety of features such as storage of the results and export and printing of the data. Additionally an external impact printer is available.
