Activities of NADPH- producing enzymes and alkaloid production in catharanthus roseus cells

Abstract

A 2,4-D dependent cell line, accumulating only traces of indole alkaloids under standard conditions of subculture, was grown in two different production media. Removal 2,4-D from maintenance culture medium enhanced the production of ajmalicine and serpentine and increased the activities of the NADPH-producing enzymes: glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, 6-phospho-gluconate dehydrogenase, malic enzyme and cytosolic isocitrate dehydrogenase. Adding zeatin to a 2,4-D depleted medium further increased the alkaloid content but the activities of the NADPH-producing enzymes remained unchanged.