Studies on the effect of streptomycin on mammalian cells in culture: I. Isolation of resistant strains

Abstract

Cells resistant to the action of relatively large quantities of streptomycin have been isolated from a streptomycin sensitive strain of mammalian cells. Sensitive and resistant clone cultures were also separated from the parent strain by cloning techniques in the absence of streptomycin. Streptomycin resistance and sensitivity is maintained after repeated subculturing in the absence of streptomycin. Some of the factors affecting the resistance of cells to streptomycin have been studied and it was found that the nutritional and physical environment of the growing culture affected the behavior of the cells in streptomycin. Streptomycin sensitive cells appear to release more 260 mμ absorbing material than streptomycin resistant cells.