Effects of Antibiotics on Multiplication of L Cells in Suspension Culture

Abstract

In a study of effects of antibiotics on multiplication of L cells in suspension culture, positive inhibition of multiplication was found when less than 1 μg/ml of any one of the following were added to the media: actinomycins B, BV, or DIV; cycloheximide; gliotoxin; hygromycin; mitomycin C; patulin; thiostrepton; and xanthomycin. Actinomycin BV was the most active of the group tested as 1.5 mμg/ml was sufficient to cause a 50% reduction in growth of culture. While the shape of dose-response curves varied with different inhibitors, it was possible to use the linear portion as the basis of a method for quantitative estimation of concentration of inhibitor present. This method may be useful in determining the presence of cytotoxic metabolites formed in microbial fermentations.