[Monoclonal antibody metabolism during the growth of hybridoma cells]

Metabolism of monoclonal antibodies (MAb) during the growth of mouse hybridoma, producing MAb to phage lambda, has been studied. It was shown that the specific production of MAb decreased by 25-35% in the stationary phase of growth in comparison with the middle of the exponential growth phase, which was associated with the decrease in the rate of MAb synthesis. The secretion kinetics of MAb did not change during the growth of hybridoma cells. MAb did not degrade inside the cells and in the culture medium after being secreted. The ratio of the synthesis rate of MAb to that of cellular proteins increased from 7-10% in the exponential growth phase to 14-18% in the stationary phase, which points to a specific regulation of MAb synthesis in comparison with cellular proteins. Possible regulation mechanisms for synthesis of MAb and cellular proteins during the growth of hybridoma cells are discussed.