Abstract
Various precursors of colchicine were added to cell suspension cultures of Colchicum autumnale and the formation of colchicine alkaloids was examined. Phenylalanine, tyrosine and methionine had no effect on the formation of colchicine, but p-coumaric acid, tyramine and demecolcine increased alkaloid formation. Production of colchicine occurred at maximum level when both p-coumaric acid and tyramine were provided together, suggesting a synergistic formation. However, concentrations of p-coumaric acid and tyramine were very low in the cultured cells in spite of high levels of phenylalanine and tyrosine. Activities of trans-cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase and tyrosine decarboxylase, involved in the biosynthesis of both p-coumaric acid and tyramine, respectively, were very low in the callus tissues during growth, although light increased activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase. We conclude that p-coumaric acid and tyramine are triggers for the formation of colchicine alkaloids in Colchicum callus tissues.
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