Abstract
In Catharanthus roseus cell cultures the time courses of four enzyme activities, tryptophan decarboxylase (TDC), strictosidine synthase (SSS), geraniol-10-hydroxylase (G10H) and anthranilate synthase (AS), and alkaloid accumulation were compared under two different culture conditions (low-inoculum density and high-inoculum density on induction medium) and a control on growth medium. In growth medium a transient increase in TDC activity was first observed after which G10H reached its maximum activity; only tryptamine accumulated, no ajmalicine could be detected. Apparently, a concerted induction of enzyme activities is required for ajmalicine formation. Cells inoculated in induction medium showed such a concerted induction of AS, TDC and G10H activities. After 30 days the low-density culture had accumulated six times more ajmalicine (in μmoles/g) than the high-density culture. Thus, increase in biomass concentration (high-density cultures) did not enhance the total alkaloid production. The major differences observed in enzyme levels between high-and low-density cultures were in the AS and TDC activities, which were two to three times higher in the low-density culture, indicating that there is a positive correlation between ajmalicine formation and AS and TDC activities.
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Biotechnology Delft Leiden, Project Group Plant Cell Biotechnology
Correspondence to: R. Verpoorte
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Moreno, P.R.H., Schlatmann, J.E., van der Heijden, R. et al. Induction of ajmalicine formation and related enzyme activities in Catharanthus roseus cells: effect of inoculum density. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 39, 42–47 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00166846
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00166846