In animal cell cultures, the addition of serum to media

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In animal cell cultures, the addition of serum to media is essential for providing

1. amino acids for protein synthesis
2. nucleotides for DNA synthesis
3. growth factors
4. all of these

Correct Option: D

• Serum provides the basic nutrients (both in the solution as well as bound to the proteins) for cells.
• Serum provides several growth factors and hormones involved in growth promotion and specialized cell function.
• It provides several binding proteins like albumin, transferrin, which can carry other molecules into the cell. For example : albumin carries lipids, vitamins, hormones, etc into cells.
• It also supplies proteins, like fibronectin, which promote attachment of cells to the substrate. It also provides spreading factors that help the cells to spread out before they begin to divide. •It provides protease inhibitors which protect cells from preolysis.
• It also provides minerals, like Na⁺, K⁺, Zn²⁺, Fe²⁺ , etc.
• It increases the viscosity of medium and thus, protects cells from mechanical damages during agitation of suspension cultures.
• It also acts a buffer.