L1210(A) mouse lymphoma cells depleted of glutathione with L-buthionine-S-R-sulfoximine proliferate in tissue culture.

L1210(A) mouse lymphoma cells have been adapted to long-term tissue culture in the presence of L-buthionine-S-R-sulfoximine in concentrations of 1-10 mM. As a result of the inhibitory action of this compound on the synthesis of gamma-glutamylcysteine, the dipeptide precursor of glutathione, the cells are depleted of more than 90% of their normal cellular glutathione content. The residual 10% seems to resist depletion at high concentrations of buthionine sulfoximine. Glutathione depleted cells proliferate at a rate similar to that of non-depleted cells, and show full viability. Upon transfer of cells into inhibitor-free medium, they fully regain their original glutathione content. It is concluded that these cells contain at least two pools of glutathione: a large cytoplasmic pool and a smaller, possibly mitochondrial, pool. It is further concluded that the large pool of cytoplasmic glutathione is not obligatory for cell growth and mitosis.