Canine kidney cells: I. Neutral lipids, phospholipids and fatty acids of SV40 transformed canine kidney cells in suspension and monolayer culture.

Differences in lipid composition and the effects of monolayer and suspension culture on SV40 virus transformed canine kidney cells and their plasma membranes were studied. Plasma membranes from monolayer and suspension cultures of SV40 transformed canine kidney cells were isolated by the Warren fluorescein-mercuric acetate technique. Free cholesterol was the major neutral lipid extracted from the whole cells and plasma membranes of all these cultures. Triglyceride increased about 6- to 50-fold in suspension grown whole cells and their plasma membranes compared to those from monolayer cultures. The mu moles of total neutral lipids and phospholipids are elevated in plasma membranes compared to whole cells from monolayer cultures but are similar in suspension cultures. The distribution of fatty acids in the major lipid classes of plasma membranes and whole cells generally follow the composition of calf serum used in the culture media. INDEX WORDS: SV40, plasma membranes, transformed cells, canine kidney cells, neutral lipids, phospholipids, monolayer culture, suspension culture.