Effect of Glucose and Glutamine Concentrations on the Growth and Metabolism of Hybridoma Cells

The effect of glucose and glutamine concentrations on the growth and metabolism of hybridoma cells was investigated in a 2 L bioreactor with batch cultures. It was found that the specific growth rates of cells were not influenced when the glucose and glutamine concentrations decreased to 1~4 mmol/L and 0.4~2 mmol/L, respectively, but the efficiency of energy metabolism increased, as judged by the increase of the cellular yield coefficient for glucose and glutamine consumption as well as the decrease of the lactate and ammonium produced. The initial ratios of glucose to glutamine concentration were also found to affect the growth and metabolism of hybridoma cells in batch cultures. More lactate was produced in batch cultures with relatively high initial glucose concentrations, and similarly, more ammonia were produced in those with high initial glutamine concentrations. The results indicated that in energy metabolism glucose and glutamine can mutual supply to some extent.