Summary
Fetal bovine serum has been reported to delay or inhibit “spontaneous” neoplastic transformation in vitro as compared with all other sera tested. The present results indicate that fetal bovine serum is also unique in containing high levels of protein-glutathione mixed disulfides (3 to 7 μg glutathione as mixed disulfide per ml serum). The level of mixed disulfide appears to vary in accordance with the period of gestation of the fetal calves used to prepare the serum, decreasing below detectable levels (less than 0.2 μg per ml) with nearterm fetal calves. Calf, adult bovine, fetal horse, and swine sera did not contain detectable levels of this type of mixed disulfide.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Evans, V. J., and W. F. Andresen. 1966. Effect of serum on spontaneous neoplastic transformationin vitro. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 37: 247–249.
Andresen, W. F., J. L. Jackson, J. T. Mitchell, and V. J. Evans. 1969. Effects of changing horse and fetal calf serum supplements on neoplastic conversion and chromosomal characteristics of mouse embryo cellsin vitro. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 43: 377–383.
Parshad, R., and K. K. Sanford. 1968. Effect of horse serum, fetal calf serum, calf serum, bovine serum and fetuin on neoplastic conversion and chromosomes of mouse embryo cellsin vitro. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 41: 767–779.
Mitchell, J. T., W. F. Andresen, and V. J. Evans. 1969. Comparative effects horse, calf and fetal calf sera on chromosomal characteristics and neoplastic conversion of mouse embryo cellsin vitro. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 42: 709–721.
Evans, V. J., F. M. Price, K. K. Sanford H. A. Kerr, and S. L. Handleman. 1972. Comparative effects of mare, stallion, gelding horse, and fetal bovine sera on neoplastic transformationin vitro. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 49: 505–511.
Andresen, W. F., F. W. Price, J. L. Jackson, T. B. Dunn, and V. J. Evans. 1967. Characterization of spontaneous neoplastic transformation of mouse embryo cells isolated and continuously culturedin vitro in chemically defined medium NCTC 135. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 38: 169–185.
Evans, V. J., and W. F. Andresen. 1968. Spontaneous neoplastic transformation in C3H mouse cellsin vitro. In: Hajim, Katsuta (Ed.),Cancer Cells in Culture. University Park Press, Baltimore and State College, Pa.
Bump, E. A., and D. J. Reed. Analysis of protein glutathione mixed disulfides by reduction with reduced Ellman’s reagent. Anal. Biochem, in press.
Tietze, F. 1969. Enzymatic method for quantitative determination of nanogram amounts of total and oxidized glutathione; Anal. Biochem. 27: 502–522.
Gregory, J. D. 1955. The stability of N-ethylmaleimide and its reaction with SH groups. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 77: 3922–3923.
States, B., and S. Segal. 1969. Thin layer chromatographic separation of cysteine and N-ethylmaleimide adducts of cysteine and glutathione. Anal. Biochem. 27: 323–329.
Zahler, W. L., and W. W. Cleland. 1968. A specific and sensitive assay for disulfides. J. Biol. Chem. 243: 716–719.
King, T. P. 1961. On the sulfhydryl group of human plasma albumin. J. Biol. Chem. 236: PC5.
Daniels, W. F., and D. C. Fish. 1974. Environmental factors for the growth of animal cells. In Vitro 10: 280–294.
Harington, J. S. 1967. The sulfhydryl group and carcinogenesis. Adv. Cancer Res. 10: 247–309.
Bump, E. A., and D. J. Reed. Steady-state oxidation of glutathione by diamide in L-5178Y cells: effects on protein synthesis and transplantability. Biochim. Biophys. Acta, submitted for publication.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This work was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (CA 08348).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bump, E.A., Reed, D.J. A unique property of fetal bovine serum: High levels of protein-glutathione mixed disulfides. In Vitro 13, 115–118 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02615075
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02615075