Effect of Canavanine on Proliferation and Metabolism of Human Cells in vitro

Abstract

Summary

Canavanine inhibited the proliferation of WISH, FL, and HEp-2 cells in vitro. HEp-2 cells of malignant origin and FL cells derived from normal tissue but later shown to be malignant were most strongly inhibited. Growth recovery experiments with HEp-2 indicated that proliferation inhibition was irreversible after 48 hours exposure to canavanine. Glucose uptake was increased to a greater extent in the FL and HEp-2 cells than in WISH cells. The protein content of all cells was increased about 2-fold by canavanine. Lysine-C¹⁴ incorporation into the cell protein of HEp-2 cells suggested that the increased protein content of this cell line might be due to a block in cell protein turnover.