Regulation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase by glucagon in HeLa cells.

HeLa cells cultured in medium containing lipid-free fetal bovine serum or in Waymouth's serum-free medium showed an increase in acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) activity of 8- and 4-fold respectively as compared to cells cultured in medium containing fetal bovine serum. This increase in ACC activity was associated with a corresponding increase in the relative synthesis of ACC. Addition of glucagon (1.5 microgram/ml) to the HeLa cell culture medium caused a 50% decrease in ACC activity. This was accompanied by a concordant decrease in the relative synthesis of ACC as measured by immunochemical techniques.