Glycolytic Properties of High and Low Sarcoma-Producing Lines and Clones of Mouse Tissue-Culture Cells

Abstract

Comparative anaerobic-glycolysis measurements were made of mouse sarcoma-producing cell lines, their clonal derivatives, and strains cultured from sarcomas produced by injection of these lines into mice of the original strain. These various sublines were all derived originally from one and the same cell cultured from normal subcutaneous connective adipose tissue. Sarcoma-producing cell lines of low tumor-producing potency had low glycolytic quotients (avg. QN2CO2, = 36–42), whereas lines of high sarcoma-producing capacity had high glycolytic quotients (avg. QN2CO2 = 93–110). One clone of intermediate glycolytic activity (avg. QN2CO2 = 58) displayed variable tumor latent periods. Tests were also made on two strains of fibroblasts recently isolated from subcutaneous adipose tissue of C3H mice. These recently isolated fibroblasts lacked the ability to produce tumors on reinjection into mice, and had relatively low glycolytic activities (avg. QN2CO2 = 33). Decreased sensitivity of glycolysis in vitro to inhibition by a specific anti-insulin (i.e., anti-hexokinase) inhibitor, a Podophyllum derivative, was associated with increased glycolytic and sarcoma-producing capacities. The possible role of the mitochondria as the loci, and hereditary carriers, of the glycolytic and other possible changes is considered.