Protein and ribonucleic acid metabolism in single-cell suspensions from Morris hepatoma 5123tc and from normal rat liver.

kinetics similar to those found for liver in the intact animal. This is in contrast to the lack of secretion of serum proteins by the hepatoma observed in vivo. The transfer was not inhibited when protein synthesis was interrupted by puromycin or cycloheximide or when the cells were incubated under nitrogen. U ridine, uracil, and orotic acid were efficiently incorpo rated into the RNA of hepatoma cells, whereas in liver cells only uridine was incorporated effectively. The ultrastructure of the cells was well preserved 1 hr after incubation. The conformation of the mitochondria changed during incubation from the condensed to the orthodox state. Hepatoma cells produced tumors in all cases (n = 20) when reimplanted into Buffalo rats.