Role of substrata in determining the growth topology of transformed and nontransformed cells in culture.

Cylindrical DEAE cellulose anion exchangers (DE-53), generally used for chromatography, were found suitable as a substratum for cultivating cells. Embryonic avian and mammalian cells cultured on DE-53 microcarriers (MC) grow in multilayers, while the same embryonic cells when transformed by avian sarcoma virus (ASV) grow in monolayers. These patterns of cell growth differ from those of normal and transformed cells grown on conventional glass or plastic Petri dishes, or on beaded MC. Cells derived from established cell lines such as BHK, HeLa, L-929, MDCK, and VERO grow in monolayer on these MC. A human adenocarcinoma cell line is the only exception growing in a multilayer form. These results indicate that the ability of cultured cells to grow in multilayers, is determined not only by their state of transformation but also by the properties of the support on which they are cultured.