YM Agar - BioReagent

Cat. No.: Y1528431

GRADE & PURITY BioReagent

Storage

Room temperature

Shipped In

Normal

Visão geral

For cultivation of molds, yeasts, and other acid-resistant bacteria

Specifications

Especificações e pureza

BioReagent

Condições de armazenamento de armazenamento

Room temperature

Enviado em

Normal

Grau

BioReagent

Product Line

biological_products

Application Protocols

The following protocols are general, literature-based guidelines for preparing and using YM Agar. They are not item-specific; follow your label/CoA for exact mass-per-liter and conditions.

A. Preparation of YM Agar Plates

1. Weigh the recommended mass of dehydrated YM Agar per liter (per label). Add to ~900 mL purified water with vigorous stirring.
2. Heat to dissolve; bring to a brief boil if needed for clarification.
3. Adjust volume to 1 L with water. Check/adjust pH if required (commonly ~6.0–6.5 for YM; literature).
4. Autoclave at 121 °C for 15 minutes (15 psi).
5. Cool to 45–50 °C. Add sterile-filtered supplements if desired (e.g., antibiotics to suppress bacteria).
6. Pour 20–25 mL per 90–100 mm Petri dish. Allow to solidify; dry plates in a sterile airflow until surfaces are free of excess moisture. Store inverted at 2–8 °C in sealed bags to reduce dehydration if holding >1–2 days.

B. Spread Plate Enumeration of Yeasts/Molds

1. Prepare serial dilutions of sample in sterile diluent (e.g., 0.85% NaCl or buffered peptone water).
2. Plate 100 µL onto dried YM agar plates; spread with a sterile spreader.
3. Incubate inverted at 25–30 °C for 2–5 days.
4. Count colony-forming units (CFU) on plates with 10–150 colonies and back-calculate CFU/mL or CFU/g.

C. Maintenance Slants

• Prepare YM agar in culture tubes with slanted solidification; streak with pure culture and incubate. Store refrigerated for short- to mid-term strain maintenance (check viability periodically).

Biological Roles

YM Agar itself has no biological role as a discrete biomolecule; rather, it provides a nutrient and physical environment that supports fungal cell biology. The following describes typical functions of YM medium components (literature):

• Carbon metabolism: Dextrose and malt extract supply fermentable sugars that feed glycolysis and the TCA cycle in yeasts and molds, supporting ATP generation and biosynthesis.
• Nitrogen and growth factors: Yeast extract and peptone deliver amino acids, peptides, and vitamins (notably B-vitamins), enabling protein synthesis and anabolic pathways.
• Trace elements and cofactors: Extracts contribute micronutrients (e.g., Mg, K, Fe in trace amounts) that act as enzyme cofactors.
• pH environment: A mildly acidic pH helps favor fungi by reducing outgrowth of many bacteria. This environment can influence cell wall assembly, sporulation, and secondary metabolism in molds.
• Physical scaffold: The agar matrix provides a porous, hydrated gel that allows nutrient diffusion and colony development while immobilizing cells for morphology assessment and isolation.

Use cases drawing on these roles (literature):

• Colony morphology and sporulation studies in molds (e.g., Aspergillus, Penicillium) under controlled nutrient and pH conditions.
• Yeast physiology assays, including growth curves, carbon source utilization (with modified sugars), and stress tolerance on solid substrate.

Note: Specific growth performance depends on exact formulation and organism. For this item, organism panels and growth-promotion acceptance criteria are Not specified; consult the CoA/Spec Sheet and perform in-house verification as needed.

Buffer Applications

YM Agar is not a dedicated buffering system and is not typically used to prepare defined buffers. While the final medium exhibits a moderately acidic pH suitable for fungal cultivation (literature), its buffering capacity arises incidentally from complex components rather than a defined conjugate acid/base pair.

• If a precise buffered environment is required (e.g., for pH-sensitive assays or antimicrobial challenge tests), prepare YM agar and adjust/augment with a defined buffer (such as citrate, phosphate, or MOPS) added aseptically to the cooled sterile medium. Verify compatibility with target organisms.

For buffer recipes, titration data, and electrophoresis/cell culture buffers, refer instead to products specifically formulated as biochemical buffers.

Green Alternatives

YM Agar is inherently aligned with several green chemistry/green microbiology principles:

• Water-based system: No organic solvents required for preparation or use.
• Renewable gelling agent: Agar is derived from red algae, a renewable resource.
• Benign processing: Sterilization by moist heat avoids hazardous sterilants.

Comparison to alternative fungal media (literature):

| Medium | Typical Selectivity | Nutrient Profile | Green Aspects | Trade-offs | |---|---|---|---|---| | YM Agar | Broad yeasts/molds | Yeast/malt extracts, peptone, glucose | Water-based; renewable agar | Less selective vs specialized media | | Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) | Many molds; sporulation | Potato infusion + glucose | Similar green profile | May not support some yeasts as robustly | | Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) | More selective for fungi (lower pH, high sugar) | Peptone + high glucose | Similar green profile | Selectivity may suppress some yeasts or stressed cells |

Greener practice tips:

• Use energy-efficient autoclave cycles and batch preparation to reduce energy per plate.
• Opt for reusable glassware (bottles, media flasks) where contamination risks can be managed.
• Minimize waste by preparing only the volume needed; solidified overage can be autoclaved and disposed but not readily repurposed.

Note: Composition details are formulation-dependent. For this item’s exact makeup and any sustainability certifications, Not specified; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

Pharmaceutical Uses

No therapeutic claims are made. In pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical settings, YM Agar can serve as a research/QC tool rather than an active ingredient or excipient.

Typical roles in regulated laboratories (literature/practice):

• Environmental monitoring (EM): Settle plates or contact plates (when formulated accordingly) for detecting yeasts and molds in cleanroom areas, utility rooms, or production support spaces.
• Bioburden and contamination screening: Assessment of fungal contamination in raw materials, in-process samples, or water systems (often alongside more selective media).
• Culture maintenance: Propagation and maintenance of yeast strains used in method development, process studies, or as positive controls.

Compliance considerations:

• Selection of medium for official tests should follow pharmacopeial or internal SOP requirements. YM Agar is not a compendial medium per se; where compendial conformity is required (e.g., USP/EP tests), use the specified medium (e.g., SDA, PDA) unless method validation justifies YM.
• Maintain documentation: CoA, lot traceability, and in-house growth-promotion testing with representative strains.

Item-specific regulatory status, sterility, and endotoxin levels: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet. Users are responsible for suitability determination within their quality systems.

Physical Properties

As a microbiological medium blend, YM Agar exhibits properties governed by its agar polysaccharide matrix and the embedded nutrients. Values below are general literature characteristics for YM/agar media; they are NOT item-specific specifications.

• Appearance (dehydrated): Free-flowing, light-colored powder (general). Item-specific: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
• Solubility: Components disperse in water; full dissolution/clarification typically requires heating to near-boiling and sterilization by autoclaving (literature).
• Gelation/melting (dominated by agar; literature):
  • Gelation (setting) temperature: ~32–40 °C
  • Melting temperature: ~85–95 °C (notably exhibits hysteresis)
• Density (powder): Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
• pH (prepared medium, 25 °C): Often mildly acidic for fungal cultures (commonly ~pH 6.0–6.5 in literature). Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet for target pH.
• Refractive index, logP, pKa: Not meaningful for a heterogeneous mixture/gel; Not specified for this item.
• Typical working concentration (literature): Total solids often in the ~36–41 g/L range for YM agar formulations, depending on agar content and desired gel firmness. This range is general guidance only; follow the label/CoA for this item.

Practical notes (literature):

• Dissolution improves with gradual addition to cold water under vigorous stirring before heating.
• Overheating (prolonged boiling) can caramelize sugars and darken the medium; autoclave promptly after dissolution.
• Precipitates or haze can arise from water hardness; use deionized or distilled water for reproducibility.

Quality and Grades

• Grade: BioReagent (as provided for this item). This designation typically indicates suitability for biological research workflows, including preparation of microbiological culture media, where low bioburden and consistent performance are required.

What BioReagent grade generally implies (context/literature):

• Raw materials screened for biological applications; reduced lot-to-lot variability to ensure growth-promotion performance.
• Controlled levels of inhibitory contaminants (e.g., heavy metals, antibiotics, peroxides) relative to general technical grades; exact numeric limits are formulation- and supplier-specific and are not specified for this item.
• Manufacturing and packaging designed to minimize moisture uptake and contamination.

Item-specific specifications and tests:

• Growth-promotion testing (GPT) with representative yeast and mold strains is commonly used for release of YM agar lots in the industry. Specific organisms, acceptance criteria, and pH targets are supplier-defined and may include Candida spp., Saccharomyces spp., Aspergillus spp., etc. For this item: Not specified; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
• Moisture content, particle size, and clarity after sterilization can be monitored as QC attributes. For this item: Not specified; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

Stabilizers/additives:

• No dedicated chemical stabilizer is typically required; the blend’s stability is governed by dryness and protection from humidity. Any anti-caking agents or pH adjusters would be formulation-specific. For this item: Not specified; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

Recommendation: For regulated work or method validation, retain the CoA and, if applicable, perform in-house GPT using your target strains.

Reaction and Applications

As a culture medium, YM Agar is used for microbiological applications rather than chemical reactions. Key research and QC applications (literature/practice):

• Cultivation and maintenance of yeasts and molds: Balanced nutrients support routine subculture, strain preservation on slants, and general-purpose growth for Saccharomyces, Candida, and many filamentous fungi.
• Enumeration and environmental monitoring: Suitable for surface plating, air sampling (with settle plates or active samplers), and swab testing in food, beverage, and industrial labs seeking fungal bioburden data.
• Physiology and fermentation pre-cultures: Pre-growth of yeast inocula for downstream bioprocess experiments; malt/yeast extracts supply vitamins and trace elements that aid robust starts.
• Teaching laboratories: Demonstrates fungal colony morphology and growth kinetics due to reliable, consistent performance.

Practical tips (literature):

• Use freshly prepared plates for optimal performance; prolonged storage can lead to drying or shifts in selectivity.
• Maintain final pH appropriate for target organisms (commonly near 6.0–6.5 for YM; verify with pH strips/meters on cooled medium).
• For selective applications, incorporate antibiotics (e.g., chloramphenicol, streptomycin) via sterile filtration into cooled (45–50 °C) medium to suppress bacterial contaminants.
• Incubate plates inverted to reduce condensation. Typical incubation: 25–30 °C for molds, 30 °C for many yeasts; adjust per organism.

Note: Exact preparation instructions (powder mass per liter, expected final pH, and GPT organisms) are item-specific and are Not specified for this item; refer to the product label/CoA.

Reaction Conditions

This section provides general microbiological preparation and incubation conditions for YM Agar (literature guidance). These are NOT item-specific specifications; consult the product label/CoA for exact instructions for this item.

• Hydration: Gradually disperse the dehydrated medium into cold or room-temperature purified water with vigorous stirring to minimize clumping.
• Concentration: YM agar formulations commonly total ~36–41 g/L solids, depending on agar content and desired gel firmness (literature). Use the mass per liter recommended on your product label.
• Dissolution: Heat to near boiling with stirring until the medium is fully dissolved and appears uniform. Avoid excessive boiling to prevent sugar degradation.
• Sterilization: Autoclave at 121 °C for ~15 minutes (15 psi). For large volumes, extend time to ensure full sterilization per your autoclave’s load validation.
• Post-autoclave handling: Cool to 45–50 °C. If adding heat-labile supplements (e.g., antibiotics, dyes), sterile-filter them and add aseptically at this stage.
• Pouring plates: Dispense ~20–25 mL per standard 90–100 mm Petri dish. Allow to solidify at room temperature with lids ajar in a laminar-flow hood to minimize condensation.
• Incubation: Invert plates and incubate at 25–30 °C for molds or ~30 °C for many yeasts; adjust per organism. Typical observation windows: 48–120 hours depending on growth rates.

Quality checks: Confirm final pH after sterilization (cool to 25 °C before measurement) and perform growth-promotion testing with known strains where required.

Safety and Handling

Safety information for this product has not been specified; always consult the product SDS for authoritative guidance.

• GHS classification: Not specified for this item; refer to SDS.
• Signal word / Hazard statements / Pictograms: Not specified for this item; refer to SDS.

General laboratory safety considerations (literature/best practice):

• Likely low acute hazard; may cause mechanical irritation as dust. Avoid inhalation of powders; handle in a clean area to minimize airborne dust.
• PPE: Laboratory coat, safety glasses, and appropriate gloves. Consider a dust mask/respirator if handling large quantities of powder.
• Incompatibilities: Moisture (caking), strong oxidizers (due to organic load). Keep away from ignition sources during autoclave venting due to hot surfaces and steam, not flammability of the medium.
• Thermal hazards: Hot liquid agar (≥60 °C) can cause severe burns. Use heat-resistant gloves and take care when pouring plates.
• Microbiological risk: After inoculation/incubation, plates and broths are biohazardous. Follow institutional biosafety procedures. Autoclave spent media and contaminated disposables before disposal.
• First aid (general):
  • Inhalation: Move to fresh air; seek attention if irritation persists.
  • Skin/eyes: Rinse with water; remove contaminated clothing; seek medical attention for persistent irritation or burns from hot media.
  • Ingestion: Rinse mouth; obtain medical advice.

Always defer to the SDS and local EHS policies for storage, handling, spill response, and waste disposal.

Solvent Selection

This product is a water-based microbiological medium; conventional solvent selection for chemical synthesis is not applicable.

Practical dissolution guidance (literature):

• Primary solvent: High-purity water (distilled or deionized). Avoid tap water due to variable hardness and potential inhibitors.
• Hydration strategy: Sprinkle powder into cold or room-temperature water with vigorous stirring to minimize clumping; then heat to dissolve.
• Sterilization: Autoclave at 121 °C for ~15 minutes (15 psi). Avoid prolonged boiling prior to autoclave to prevent sugar degradation.
• Post-sterilization handling: Cool to 45–50 °C before pouring plates to prevent condensation and to avoid thermal shock to supplements if added.

Comparison with related media (selection considerations; literature):

• YM Agar vs Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA): YM is generally milder (often slightly higher pH and different extract composition), supporting a broad range of yeasts/molds. SDA, with higher dextrose and lower pH, is more selective for fungi.
• YM Agar vs Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA): PDA often enhances sporulation for many molds; YM provides balanced nutrition that also supports yeasts robustly.

If enrichment or selectivity is desired (e.g., antibiotics, pH shifts, osmotic adjustments), add sterile-filtered supplements to cooled, sterilized YM base at 45–50 °C. Always verify compatibility of supplements with the target organisms.

Storage and Reconstitution

Storage (item-specific):

• Storage conditions provided: Room temperature. Protect from moisture and light; keep container tightly closed. Avoid humid environments to prevent caking and loss of performance.
• Shipping: Normal (per product data). Avoid temperature extremes and wetting during transit.

Shelf life and appearance:

• Item-specific shelf life and appearance criteria are Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet. If powder shows clumping due to moisture or abnormal discoloration/odor, evaluate before use.

Reconstitution and sterilization (literature guidance; not item-specific):

• Mass per liter: Follow the product label. YM formulations commonly total ~36–41 g/L solids depending on agar content and desired gel strength (general literature range, not a specification).
• Hydration: Disperse in purified water with vigorous stirring; heat to dissolve.
• Sterilize by autoclaving at 121 °C for ~15 minutes (15 psi). Do not over-sterilize to avoid sugar caramelization.
• Post-sterilization: Cool to 45–50 °C before pouring plates or adding heat-labile supplements. Mix gently to avoid bubble entrapment.

Freeze–thaw guidance:

• Do not freeze the dehydrated powder. Solidified agar plates are best used fresh; if stored, seal to prevent dehydration and keep at 2–8 °C. Avoid repeated temperature cycling which accelerates drying and surface cracking.

Always consult the product CoA/Spec Sheet for item-specific reconstitution instructions, target pH, and quality attributes.

Structure and Identity

YM Agar (Yeast Malt Agar) is a defined product category for microbiology culture media, not a single chemical entity. It is a dehydrated blend of organic nutrients and a gelling agent designed to support the growth of yeasts and molds.

• Item type: Dehydrated culture medium blend (complex mixture)
• Molecular formula: Not applicable to mixtures; Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
• Molecular weight: Not applicable to mixtures; Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
• SMILES / InChI / InChIKey: Not applicable to mixtures; Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

Structural and compositional features (literature, typical for YM agar):

• Carbon sources: Dextrose (glucose) and malt extract supply fermentable sugars and growth factors.
• Nitrogen and vitamins: Yeast extract and peptone provide peptides, amino acids, B-vitamins, and trace cofactors.
• Gelling agent: Agar, a polysaccharide (mostly agarose + agaropectin) from red algae, forms a thermo-reversible gel.
• pH profile: Typically adjusted near mildly acidic conditions to favor fungi (yeasts/molds) over many bacteria (literature).

2D “structure” description (conceptual for the blend):

• A heterogeneous, free-flowing tan-to-beige dehydrated powder (appearance for this item: Not specified; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet) that, when hydrated and heated, yields a clear-to-slightly opalescent gel matrix embedding low–molecular weight nutrients uniformly distributed through the agar network.

Important: Exact composition, supplier-specific additives, and final pH are formulation-dependent. Treat any component list or ratios as general, literature information and consult the product CoA/specification for authoritative item-specific details.

Synthetic Utility

Not applicable. YM Agar is a complex microbiological medium intended for cultivation of yeasts and molds and does not function as a reagent or building block in synthetic organic or inorganic chemistry.

For chemical synthesis guidance, refer to solvent, reagent, or catalyst products specifically designed for those workflows.

Target Specificity

Target specificity attributes (antigen, epitope, clone, isotype, species reactivity) are not applicable to a culture medium. This product does not contain or target a specific biomolecular epitope.

If organism selectivity is of interest: YM Agar (literature) is broadly supportive of yeasts and molds due to nutrient composition and mildly acidic pH but is not highly selective. For selective recovery, consider supplementing with antibiotics or using specialized media as dictated by your application.