Abstract

We studied the effects of amino acids on the biosynthesis of protoberberine alkaloids. When 5 mM tyrosine was added to the nutrient medium, the content of alkaloids was reduced by 23% and dry weight was only 77% of the control. On the medium with 1 mM L-tryptophan, the content of alkaloids was somewhat increased (by 20%). Other amino acids (sulfur-containing L-cysteine and L-methionine, and also L-proline and L-arginine) did not affect substantially the content of alkaloids. The addition of 1 and 5 mM L-phenylalanine, which is not a primary precursor to alkaloids, induced the accumulation of alkaloids by the 17th day of the growth cycle by 40 and 140%, respectively, as compared to control treatment. The comparison of various phenylalanine concentrations showed that 7 mM phenylalanine added on the 7– 8th day induced the highest accumulation of alkaloids in the culture medium (above 1 g/l). The content of alkaloids and soluble phenolic compounds increased threefold in both the medium and cells. None of the amino acid tested enhanced biomass accumulation.

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