Assay Name
In Vitro Lactate Assay (Energy Metabolism)
Short Description
MOLT-4-cell based In Vitro Lactate Assay (Energy Metabolism)
Assay Description
Accumulation of lactate in cancer cells has been linked with poor survival and cancer metastasis. Higher glucose uptake in cancer cells is considered as the main cause for the accumulation and secretion of lactate by cancer cells. The lactate/pyruvate ratio is an essential parameter for the maintenance of the redox state of cells. Therefore, evaluation of cellular lactate levels allows assessment of the cellular oxygen utilization and demand. A number of commercially available colorimetric or fluorometric kits have been developed to detect lactate levels in cells and tissues.
Assay Type
Energy Metabolism Detection Assays
Assay Type Details
Cells require energy to grow, replicate and maintain internal cellular environment. Cells acquire energy need through a series of metabolic reactions known as respiration. Energy is stored as ATP in cells and when cells require energy, ATP can be broken down to fulfil the energy needs of cells. Aerobic and anaerobic respirations are two main forms of cellular respiration. Aerobic respiration requires oxygen to break down glucose into pyruvate, ATP and carbon dioxide and in anaerobic respiration, cells break glucose into lactic acid instead of pyruvate. Production of ATP is higher in the aerobic respiration (38 ATPs) than in anaerobic respiration. Glycolysis is the first step in cellular respiration, which involves production of pyruvate from glucose molecules. Enhanced rate of glycolysis is one of the main observations in cancer cells compared to normal cells, which is known as the Warburg effect. The consumption of glucose is reported to be higher in cancer cells than in normal cells. It has been reported that cancer cells can secrete lactic acid rather than converting glucose molecules into carbon dioxide. When considering the rate of ATP production in cancer cells, it has been reported that cancer cells can produce ATP about hundred-fold faster than normal cells. High expression of glucose receptors on the cell surface and enzymes controlling glucose influx into cancer cells have been identified as the main reasons for increased uptake of glucose by cancer cells. Measuring metabolites and enzymes in energy metabolism of cancer has been pivotal in medical research and a wide range of manual assay procedures and kits are available to measure changes in energy metabolism in cancer cells.
Assay Subtype
Lactate Assay