Which gas concentration is optimal for most animal cell cultures?
Carbon dioxide role in culture extends beyond waste gas to essential physicochemical regulator and metabolic substrate. Dissolution follows Henry's law concentration equals partial pressure times solubility coefficient 0.03 mM per mmHg at 37°C, so at 5 percent CO2 incubator partial pressure about 38 mmHg dissolved CO2 approximately 1.2 mM. Hydration reaction CO2 plus water forms carbonic acid catalyzed by zinc metalloenzyme carbonic anhydrase II intracellularly with turnover 10^6 per second, spontaneous dissociation to bicarbonate plus proton. Ratio bicarbonate to dissolved CO2 determines pH v
Ref: Freshney CO2 5% optimal bicarbonate Henry's law dissolved CO2; Lodish MBoC pyrimidine carbamoyl phosphate CO2 metabolic substrate.
