The growth of mouse hybridomas in the defined medium with ferric citrate at the optimum growth-stimulating concentration of 500 microM in place of transferrin is fully comparable with the growth in the medium with transferrin at the optimum concentration of 5 micrograms/ml. Experiments with monoclonal antibody to mouse transferrin receptor demonstrate that the growth-stimulating effect of ferric citrate is not based on the action of residual transferrin or the action of transferrin secreted by hybridoma cells. Such growth-stimulating effect is specific for iron compounds while other metal trace elements are ineffective. Hybridoma cells can absorb iron from medium containing iron salt without the presence of transferrin.

Institute of Molecular Genetics Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences Praha

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