Our Custom Media Service is for those customers who have specialized needs. Special media modifications are available per request. If you require special media modifications, we offer a Custom Media Service starting at ten bottles per order.
The PromoCell online Knowledge Base upgrades our Technical Support and provides you with instant technical answers.
How do I use the Knowledge Base?
You can find the answers to detailed questions about our Products using 'Search for Information' (in our Support section). Type in your keyword and the Knowledge Base will show you the associated answers from our library of technical questions.
In the section Application Notes, you will find documents exceeding the information in our Product Manuals. For example, differentiation and staining protocols, all at your fingertips.
If you are interested in viewing published work by our customers, the section Reference Literature offers you access to literary citations of scientists that have used PromoCell Primary Cells or Media.
You can also search all categories with your keyword. To try the new knowledge base, please click here.
Advantages of the Knowledge Base for you!
You save time, because accurate information is immediately available
You now have the choice to either contact our Technical Support team by phone or email, or you can immediately find your information online
You get more goal-oriented information
If you cannot find the answer to your question in our Knowledge Base, then please write us an email, or call our Technical Support Team with your query. We will respond to your question and integrate it in our Knowledge Base.
We also implemented an online Knowledge Base for our PromoKine products. It provides you the answers to many questions about our cell biology products including: Cell analysis and apoptosis, fluorescent labeling, cytokines & growth factors, cell transfection, antibodies & ELISAs, and gene cloning.
PromoCells in Space
"It’s a milestone in our research. It was thrilling and relieving at the same time to do the count down and finally see the rocket launch.”, says Prof. Oliver Ullrich, space biologist from the Otto-von-Guericke-University in Magdeburg and the University of Zurich.
After 4 years of groundwork, the crewless research rocket TEXUS-49 finally took off. It was 6.01 am on the 29th of March 2011, at the Swedish rocket launch site ESRANGE near Kiruna, 150 km north of the Arctic Circle – and PromoCell’s Hematopoietic Stem Cells were on board. TEXUS (a German acronym for technological experiments in weightlessness) number 49 set off to analyze why human cells display long-term sensitivity to weightlessness – this is one of the most important problems for manned space flights and it is the research project of Prof. Oliver Ullrich. Since the first crewed spaceflights occurred, it is known that during and after long periods in weightlessness, astronauts suffer from serious disorders of the immune system that manifest themselves in heavy infections.
Oliver Ullrich has already gained valuable insight into the signal transduction of cells of the immune system from eight parabolic flight campaigns. In March, this project was taken to the next step, and our PromoCell Technical Customer Service was right in the middle of the action.
During the 20 minute flight, PromoCell’s Hematopoietic Stem Cells were exposed to microgravity for approximately 6 minutes. Prof. Oliver Ullrich knows from experience: “The immune cells react within seconds of time to the suspension of gravity.”
After its flight at a height of up to 268 km, the TEXUS Payload landed with the Stem Cells in an unpopulated area of northern Sweden and was recovered by helicopter.
The setup with PromoCell’s Hematopoietic Stem Cells is now back in the laboratory in Zurich, where the experiments are being analyzed using modern technology.
At this point in time, one thing’s for sure: the story of “PromoCells in Space” will continue – further tests in weightlessness are planned!
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TEXUS-49: Signal Transduction in Cells of the Immune System in Microgravity (SITI-1).
The Swedish rocket launch site ESRANGE near Kiruna, 150 km north of the Arctic Circle.
View over ESRANGE
Our PromoCell Technical Customer Service (TCS), Liliana Layer, braves the danger for science.
An Aurora borealis seen at ESRANGE space center.
One of the incubators at the ESRANGE lab.
PromoCell’s TCS at work.
Prof. Oliver Ullrich dreaming about the results.
PromoCell’s TCS right in the middle of the action (from left to right: Dipl. biol. Svantje Tauber, TCS Liliana Layer, Prof. Dr. Oliver Ullrich).
The rocket nosecone is being prepared.
Rocket technicians assembling the electronics.
PromoCell’s Hematopoietic Stem Cells are transferred to syringes, ...
... mounted into holders, ...
... and prepared for stacking...
... by special staff.
An experiment module.
The cells are contained within a temperature-controlled device powered by several packages of built-in batteries.
Last assemblies being made on the TEXUS-49.
The TEXUS-49 without motor.
The TEXUS-49 is brought to...
…the launch tower.
Dawn at ESRANGE.
Spectators of the take-off.
Launch of TEXUS-49 on March 29, 2011 (Photo: Adrian Mettauer).
Launch of TEXUS-49 on March 29, 2011 (Photo: Adrian Mettauer).
Launch of TEXUS-49 on March 29, 2011 (Photo: Adrian Mettauer).
Launch of TEXUS-49 on March 29, 2011 (Photo: Adrian Mettauer).
On board camera TEXUS-49: March 29, 2011.
On board camera: Lapland from space.
The Payload is recovered by helicopter...
... by members of the TEXUS-49 team.
PromoCell’s Hematopoietic Stem Cells after their recovery from the Payload.
The story of “PromoCells in Space” will continue – further tests on them in weightlessness are planned! See you soon!
All pictures were taken by members of the TEXUS-49 Team, except indicated otherwise.