SILAC - Stable isotope labelling with amino acids in cell culture

A SILAC strategy requires incorporation of stable isotope labelled lysine and arginine into proteins while the cells are growing. Typically a control cell line is grown in “heavy” medium and experimental cell lines grown in “light” or normal medium for 6 to 8 generations. The SILAC approach is also appropriate for secretome studies. Multiple parallel SILAC experiments (multi-SILAC) can be performed each comparing and experimental variable cell lines (e.g. time course, phenotype variants) to the ”heavy” labelled control.

Our Proteomics Service includes full consultation on the design of SILAC experimental strategies. We have extensive experience of SILAC and multiSILAC strategies working with extracts and secretomes from cell lines and primary cells.