EFFECTS OF ORGANIC PH BUFFERS ON A CELL-GROWTH AND AN ANTIBODY-PRODUCTION OF HUMAN-HUMAN HYBRIDOMA HB4C5 CELLS IN A SERUM-FREE CULTURE

Human-human hybridoma cells secreting a human monoclonal antibody were cultured in a serum-free medium containing various organic pH buffers in order to clarify their effects on cell growth and antibody product ion. Organic pH buffers having either one sulfonic acid and several ac yclic amine moieties, or several cyclic amine moieties containing two amino nitrogen did not inhibit cell growth; while other organic buffer s sulfonic acid moiety plus several cyclic amine moieties containing o ne amino nitrogen slightly decreased cell growth, but enhanced antibod y production. Using Fujita's organic conceptual diagram, a relationshi p between the organicity and inorganicity of a pH buffer to cell growt h and antibody production was found. pH buffers with large inorganicit y and small organicity values were favorable for cell growth, and buff ers with small inorganicity and large organicity values were preferred to enhance antibody production. Although the pH buffering range affec ts cell growth, its effect on antibody production is not clear. In con clusion, 2-morpholinoethanesulfonic acid (MES), 3-morpholinopropanesul fonic acid (MOPS) and 1, 2-N, N'-bis[N '', N'''-di(2-sulfonoethyl)pipe razinyl]ethane (Bis-PIPES) are shown to be the most optimal of the buf fers tested, because they enhanced antibody production without decreas ing the cell growth among the pH buffers tested here.