Stimulatory Effects of Glycine,L-Serine,Folic Acid and Related Compounds on Growth of Cell Cultures. ∗

Abstract

Summary

Growth of the majority of a wide variety of primary and stable line cultures was stimulated significantly by inclusion of glycine or L-serine in the medium. Folinic acid or high levels (5-20 μg/ml) of folic acid also accomplished this effect for most cultures, although generally not to the same extent as did amino acids. The requirement of Walker carcinosarcoma 256 and of primary green monkey kidney cells for folic acid was fulfilled by glycine, thymidine, and adenine or several related compounds. L-serine could not replace glycine under similar conditions. The implications of these findings are discussed.