KN-013

Culture media for mammalian cells contain electrolytes at concentrations that approximate those of the extracellular fluid (ECF). However, we observed that HeLa strain cells can grow in a cytosol type, serum-free, high amino acid medium (KN13) in which the concentrations of K+, Mg2+ and Pi were increased to about 10 times those in ECF by replacing NaCl. The Ca2+ concentration of KN13 is 10% of that in ECF. The additions of Mg2+ and Pi are essential to prevent the harmful effect of a high concentration of K+ in the medium. Even an increase in the K/Na ratio to 7 and 9 permitted growth for at least 2 weeks and 4 days, respectively. HeLaP3 cells adapted to KN13 (HeLaK cells) have proliferated (4 fold/week) for 4 years in this medium. The Na,K-ATPase of HeLaK cells was the alpha 1 isoform. HeLaK cells in KN13 medium have a lower membrane potential (-3.0 +/- 6.1 mV) than that of the original HeLaP3 cells in DM160 (-26 +/- 10 mV).