Nutrition of mouse ascites tumor cells in primary culture. II. Specific requirement for glucose.

Primary monolayer cultures were prepared from mouse ascites tumor cells of the Ehrlich-Lettré line and cultivated in chemically defined media containing various carbohydrates as the sole energy source. An absolute glucose requirement for culture survival was found, which could be satisfied by either the alpha or beta forms. The cultures died within 2-3 days when D-mannose, D-fructose, or D-galactose was substituted for D-glucose. Of over 50 other carbohydrates and related compounds tested, none could replace glucose. Cells of the Ehrlich and Ehrlich-Lettré lines suspended in balanced salt solutions containing various carbohydrates removed D-glucose, D-mannose, D-fructose, D-glucosamine, and 2-deoxy-D-glucose from the suspending fluid. In the presence of D-glucose, culture survival was inhibited by D-mannose, D-fructose, L-glucose, and D-galactose. D-Glucosamine and 2-deoxy-D-glucose strongly inhibited culture survival with the 50% inhibition points at 375 mg/liter and 62.5 mg/liter, respectively. The inhibition by D-glucosamine could be reversed by alpha- and beta-glucose, but not by D-mannose or D-fructose. The inhibition by 2-deoxy-D-glucose could be reversed completely by alpha- and beta-glucose, to a slight degree by D-mannose, and not at all by D-fructose.