| Abstract: | We have studied the effect of various fractions of foetal bovine serum upon the endogenous degradation of long labelled proteins in cultured MRC5 cells, and upon other cellular functions. Only heat-inactivated serum was capable of suppressing protein degradation to a similar extent to complete serum. Acid-treated and delipidized sera were moderately effective. Albumin on its own was able to replace 40 per cent of the effect of serum, indicating the exogenous protein might compete with endogenous protein for degradation in lysosomes. Albumin was not capable of supporting DNA synthesis. Dialysed serum showed an age-related effect suppressing protein degradation to a lesser extent and being less effective in supporting DNA synthesis or cellular proliferation in aged cells. All the effects noted were related to lysosomal protein degradation. Serum diffusate did not suppress protein degradation. |
