CELL-DENSITY-DEPENDENCE FOR GROWTH IN AGAROSE OF 2 HUMAN LYMPHOMA LINES AND ITS DECREASE AFTER EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS CONVERSION

We have compared the growth in agarose medium of two EBV‐negative Burkitt lymphoma lines, BJAB and Ramos, and that of their EBV‐converted derivatives. Optimal conditions for growth in agarose medium are described. The original EBV‐negative lines can grow in agarose to a high efficiency, provided a critical level of cell concentration is attained. Below this level, there is no growth at all. EBV‐converted sublines form colonies at a much lower cell concentration, and their maximal plating efficiency is higher. These differences may be related to a super‐transformation state induced in these cells by EBV. Copyright © 1979 Wiley‐Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company