MTT Assay Kit (Cell Proliferation) (ab211091)
Key features and details
- Assay type: Quantitative
- Detection method: Colorimetric
- Platform: Microplate reader
- Assay time: 3 hr 15 min
- Sample type: Adherent cells, Suspension cells
Overview
-
Product name
MTT Assay Kit (Cell Proliferation)
See all Cell viability/proliferation kits -
Detection method
Colorimetric -
Sample type
Adherent cells, Suspension cells -
Assay type
Quantitative -
Assay time
3h 15m -
Species reactivity
Reacts with: Mammals, Other species -
Product overview
MTT Assay Kit ab211091 is an easy-to-use, non-radioactive, and high-throughput assay for measuring cell proliferation, cell viability and cytotoxicity.
The MTT assay protocol is based on the conversion of water soluble MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) compound to an insoluble formazan product. NB: MTT is also available as free molecule as ab146345 (Thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide).
Viable cells with active metabolism convert MTT into formazan. Dead cells lose this ability and therefore show no signal. Thus color formation serves as a useful and convenient marker of only the viable cells. The measured absorbance at OD 590 nm is proportional to the number of viable cells.
The MTT assay is a measure of the metabolic activity of the cells analyzed; the more metabolic activity in the sample, the higher the signal. This should be considered when interpreting the results of the assay.
MTT assay protocol summary:
- replace serum-containing media with serum-free media and MTT reagent in cell cultures
- incubate for 3 hr at 37ºC
- add MTT solvent and incubate for 15 min
- analyze with microplate reader -
Notes
Review our cell health assay guide to learn about our kits to perform a cell viability assay, cytotoxicity assay or cell proliferation assay. An alternative product, MTS assay kit ab197010, uses a similar principle to this kit, but without the need for the MTT solvent step.
How other researchers have used MTT Assay Kit ab211091
This MTT assay kit has been used in publications with a variety of cell types, including:
HUVEC cells1, U2OS cells and Saos2 cells2, human PBMCs3, rat primary hepatic stellate cells4, DBTRG glioblastoma cells5, SKOV3 human ovarian cancer cells6, mouse vascular smooth muscle cells7, human iPSC-derived neuronal cultures8, primary bladder cancer cells9References: 1-De Felice F et al 2019, 2-Zhang X et al 2019, 3-Schotterl S et al 2018, 4-Huang W et al 2015, 5-Tang XJ et al 2016, 6-Zhu Q et al 2017, 7-Ma S et al 2018, 8-Rane A et al 2018, 9-Maj M et al 2018
-
Platform
Microplate reader
Properties
-
Storage instructions
Store at -20°C. Please refer to protocols. -
Components 1000 tests MTT Reagent 1 x 50ml MTT Solvent 1 x 150ml -
Research areas
-
Relevance
Cell proliferation is the multiplication or reproduction of cells, as a result of cell growth and cell division, resulting in the expansion of a cell population. -
Alternative names
- Cell Cytotoxicity
- cell tracking
Images
-
MTT assay of Bortezomib in multiple myeloma cells Image courtesy of an anonymous abreview
MTT assay kit ab211091 was used by an Abcam customer (see product review) to assess the cell viability of myeloma cells which have acquired resistance to bortezomib (a proteasome inhibitor used as a cancer therapeutic).
Cells previously treated with 10 nM bortezomib for 1.5 months (RPMI8226-Bortezomib) had significantly improved viability, compared to the parental untreated cell line, when treated for 72 hours with varying concentrations of bortezomib.
-
MTT Cell Proliferation Assay (ab211091)HeLa cells were grown in DMEM media supplemented with 10% FBS, harvested using trypsin and counted using Trypan blue and a hemocytometer. Cells were then serially diluted in a clear cell culture plate and incubated for 3 hours with MTT Reagent at 37°C. After incubation, cells were treated with MTT Solvent for 15 minutes at room temperature. Absorbance was measured at OD = 590 nm. Inset graph is an expanded segment of the assay data at lower cell number per well.
