Effects of stress factors, bioregulators, and synthetic precursors on indole alkaloid production in compact callus clusters cultures of Catharanthus roseus

• Published in: Applied microbiology and biotechnology Vol. 55; no. 6; pp. 693 - 698
• Main Authors: Zhao, J, Hu, Q, Guo, Y.Q, Zhu, W.H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01.06.2001; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: ajmalicine; alkaloids; Alkaloids - biosynthesis; Biological and medical sciences; Biomass; Biotechnology; callus; catharanthine; Catharanthus - growth & development; Catharanthus - metabolism; Catharanthus roseus; Cells, Cultured; Culture Media; Establishment of new cell lines, improvement of cultural methods, mass culture; Eukaryotic cell cultures; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; geraniol; Health. Pharmaceutical industry; indole alkaloids; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; mannitol; Mannitol - pharmacology; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Other active biomolecules; Phenobarbital - pharmacology; Phenylalanine - pharmacology; Plant cells and fungal cells; Plant Stems - growth & development; Plant Stems - metabolism; potassium chloride; Potassium Chloride - pharmacology; Production of active biomolecules; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds - pharmacology; Secologanin Tryptamine Alkaloids - metabolism; succinic acid; Succinic Acid - pharmacology; Terpenes - pharmacology; tetramethyl ammonium bromide; tetramethylammonium compounds; tryptamine; Tryptamines - pharmacology; tryptophan; Tryptophan - pharmacology; Vinca Alkaloids - biosynthesis; Yohimbine - analogs & derivatives; Yohimbine - metabolism; Cell culture; Callus; Vegetals; Environmental factor; Catharanthus roseus; Optimization; Stress; Apocynaceae; Alkaloid; Suspension culture; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Production; Spermatophyta; Indole derivatives
• ISSN: 0175-7598; 1432-0614
• DOI: 10.1007/s002530000568

Compact callus cluster (CCC) cultures established from Catharanthus roseus consist of cohesive callus aggregates displaying certain levels of cellular or tissue differentiation. CCC cultures synthesize about two-fold more indole alkaloids than normal dispersed-cell cultures. Our studies here show that additions of KCl, mannitol, and a variety of synthetic precursors and bioregulators to the CCC cultures markedly improved indole alkaloid production and release of these alkaloids into the medium. Treatment with 250 mM mannitol and 4 g/l KCl yielded 42.3 mg l(-1) and 33.6 mg l(-1) of ajmalicine, respectively; these amounts were about four-fold higher than the control. Succinic acid, tryptamine, and tryptophan feedings also significantly increased ajmalicine (41.5 mg l(-1), 36.9 mg l(-1),and 31.8 mg l(-1), respectively) and catharanthine (21.1 mg l(-1), 17.2 mg l(-1), and 18 mg l(-1), respectively) production by the CCC cultures, while geraniol feeding inhibited biomass and alkaloid accumulation. We also found that tetramethyl ammonium bromide could significantly improve ajmalicine production (49.3 mg l(-1)) and catharanthine production (18.3 mg l(-1)) in C. roseus CCC cultures. The mechanisms responsible for these treatment effects are discussed herein.