Abstract
The effects of oligogalacturonides on the production of shikonin and its related metabolites as well as on enzyme activities involved in shikonin biosynthesis were investigated. Administration of oligogalacturonides (degree of polymerization; 12–20) to cell cultures of Lithospermum erythrorhizon rapidly activated the first half of the biosynthetic reactions which gave rise to a by-product, dihydroechinofuran via geranylhydroquinone. After a lag time, it promoted the latter half of the reactions, leading to the formation of shikonin from the key intermediate, geranylhydroquinone. Dihydroechinofuran production could be induced by oligogalacturonides irrespective of cell age, whereas shikonin production was inducible only when cells were over seven-days-old after inoculation. These results suggest that, even though the biosynthesis of the key intermediate is readily induced by oligogalacturonides, certain subcellular differentiation or aging is required for the formation of shikonin.
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