Pentose utilizing variants of Novikoff hepatoma cells: modification of growth and morphological properties.

A series of variant lines that utilize multiple pentoses for growth in place of glucose have been isolated from an 8-azaguanine resistant line of Novikoff hepatoma cells (N1S167). These variants utilize for growth ribose, xylose, arabinose, and/or deoxyribose. The variants growing on pentose containing medium (a) exhibit a density dependent cessation of growth, (b) have a morphology change to a more flattened cell type, (c) become binucleated in the presence of cyto chalasin B, and (d) show an altered sensitivity to trypsin treatment.