Albumin replacement by fatty acids in clonal growth of mammalian cells.

Clonal growth of Chinese hamster strain CHD-3 cells in a synthetic nutrient mixture supplemented with 10 micrograms of purified fetuin per milliliter exhibits an apparent requirement for serum albumin. The albumin can be replaced by linoleic acid, which occurs as a tightly bound component of most albumin preparations. Linolenic acid and corn oil can also replace albumin, while oleic acid and esters of linoleic and linolenic acids cannot.