Fluctuations in phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate levels in monolayer tumor cell lines

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Abstract
The concentration of PRPP (phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate) measured in tumor cells grown in monolayer showed a large variation with the various harvesting methods examined, including trypsinization. This variation could be reduced by a 1‐h incubation of trypsinized cells as a suspension in Dulbecco's medium. After this preincubation these cell suspensions were suitable for the study of modulation of PRPP. One μM methotrexate caused a 2–3‐fold increase and 1 mM N‐phosphonoacetyl‐L‐aspartate a slight increase, but inosine and deoxyinosine drastically reduced PRPP concentrations. 5‐Fluorouracil had no effect. This study demonstrates that metabolic parameters such as PRPP concentrations can be studied conveniently in suspensions of cells which are commonly cultivated as monolayers.