Circumventing the Crabtree effect in cell culture: A systematic review

• Published in: Mitochondrion Vol. 59; pp. 83 - 95
• Main Authors: de Kok, Michèle J.C., Schaapherder, Alexander F., Wüst, Rob C.I., Zuiderwijk, Melissa, Bakker, Jaap A., Lindeman, Jan H.N., Le Dévédec, Sylvia E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.07.2021
• Subjects: Cell culture; Cell Culture Techniques - methods; Crabtree effect; Culture Media - chemistry; Glucose - pharmacology; Glycolysis; Humans; Metabolism; Mitochondria; Mitochondria - drug effects; Mitochondria - metabolism; Mitochondrial Dynamics - drug effects; Oxidative Phosphorylation; Glycolysis; Cell culture; Crabtree effect; Mitochondria; Oxidative phosphorylation; Metabolism
• ISSN: 1567-7249; 1872-8278; 1872-8278
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mito.2021.03.014

Metabolic reprogramming and mitochondrial dysfunction are central elements in a broad variety of physiological and pathological processes. While cell culture established itself as a versatile technique for the elaboration of physiology and disease, studying metabolism using standard cell culture protocols is profoundly interfered by the Crabtree effect. This phenomenon refers to the adaptation of cultured cells to a glycolytic phenotype, away from oxidative phosphorylation in glucose-containing medium, and questions the applicability of cell culture in certain fields of research. In this systematic review we aim to provide a comprehensive overview and critical appraisal of strategies reported to circumvent the Crabtree effect.