Selection of transfored cells in serum-free media

Summary NIH3T3 cells grow in a serum-free basal nutrient medium supplemented with fibronectin, transferrin, insulin, epidermal growth factor (EGF) and high density lipoprotein (HDL). The individual omission from the serum-free medium of insulin, EGF, or HDL results in greatly reduced cell growth. These growth-restrictive conditions can be used to select for cells transformed with SV40, the polyomavirus middle T antigen gene, the activated humanras gene, and the mouse c-myc gene. This work was supported by grants ES-00-210 from the National Institutes of Health (NIEHS) and MV-182 from the American Cancer Society. Dr. L.-C. Chiang is a Visiting Research Scientist from PPG Industries, Inc. Editor’s statement This paper represents a new approach to the identification of oncogenes that would escape the screening methods currently in use. Inherent in the method is the assignment of function to oncogenes.