title: L-alanine--an essential amino acid for growth of lymphocytes in vitro.
abstract: A factor an ultrafiltrated (UM 10) extracts of calf thymus, liver and spleen stimulated the uptake of 3H-thymidine in DNA of cultured lymphocytes. The factor was purified by ion-exchange chromatography and gel chromatography and identified as alanine, which is lacking in the culture medium, RPMI 1640. An optimal amount of L-alanine increased the uptake of 3H-thymidine in DNA of lymphocytes from different species by about 100%. L-alanine should be regarded as a growth factor for lymphocytes in vitro and should be added to RPMI 1640, when this tissue culture medium is used for lymphocytes.
mesh_terms: D000409:Alanine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D003470:Culture Media; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051381:Rats; D013154:Spleen; D013949:Thymus Extracts; D014020:Tissue Extracts
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D013949:Thymus Extracts; D014020:Tissue Extracts; D004247:DNA; D000409:Alanine