Studies on the culture conditions of higher plant cells in suspension culture. Characteristics of cultured tobacco cell strains producing high levels of ubiquinone-10 selected by a cell cloning technique.

Abstract

Characteristic differences were examined between tobacco cell strains producing high levels of ubiquinone (UQ) and the original tobacco cell line (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv BY-2). The growth rate of strains producing high levels of UQ was about half of that of the original cells. The maximum yield in cell dry weight was about two-thirds of that of original cells. The time-course of UQ formation by selected strains and the respiratory rates were similar to those in the original cells. The UQ contents were much higher than those in original cells, not only per g-dry weight but also per cell. Most UQ in the selected strains were also localized in mitochondria, as well as in the original cells. On protein basis, the yield of purified mitochondria from strains producing high levels of UQ was 4.3 times as much as that from original cells. UQ formation per mg of mitochondrial protein and the molar ratios of UQ to the other electron transport components in selected cells were similar to those in original cells. The ratio of the mitochondrial protein yield in strains producing high levels of UQ to the yield in original cells correlated closely with the ratio of UQ content per g-dry weight in UQ-producing strains to UQ content in original cells.