The role of ascorbic acid in the biosynthesis of collagen I. Ascorbic acid requirement by embryonic chick tibia in tissue culture

Abstract Embryonic chick tibias, when incubated in a chemically defined medium, grow and synthesize collagen for several days. The tissues display a marked dependence upon the presence of L -ascorbic acid in the culture medium for normal growth. Deletion of ascorbic acid reduces collagen synthesis by the bones after the first 2 days in culture. A less drastic reduction in the synthesis of other proteins, DNA and RNA, was also observed. The rate of synthesis of these substances was rapidly restored by the addition of ascorbic acid.