Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Biotransformation Through Hairy Roots: Perspectives, Outcomes, and Major Challenges

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Transgenesis and Secondary Metabolism

Part of the book series: Reference Series in Phytochemistry ((RSP))

Abstract

The Agrobacterium rhizogenes mediated hairy root cultures have shown great potential in bringing out structural and/or conformational alteration of a chemical moiety through its enzymatic paraphernalia. The inherent enzymes involved in bioconversions perform various kinds of reactions such as hydroxylation, glycosylation, oxidoreduction, and hydrolysis. Hairy root cultures of variety of plant systems have been explored for the bioconversion of a wide range of substrates into the molecules of improved pharmaceutical properties. Some specific inherent properties of hairy roots like genetic/biochemical stability, hormonal independence, efficient enzyme paraphernalia, and low-cost cultural requirements contribute to the superiority of HRCs over other in vitro production systems. Rational use of hairy root cultures as proficient biotransformation system may result in the synthesis of molecules that have desired physico-chemical properties, adequate solubility, and reduced toxicity, thus more desired in pharmaceutical industries. The present chapter elaborates a comprehensive discussion on hairy root mediated biotransformation, types of reactions, and products formed concomitantly with their commercial importance.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

Abbreviations

4-OHBA:

4-hydroxybenzalacetone

BG:

Betuligenol

DA:

Deoxy artemisinin

DHA:

Dehydroabietic acid

HBA:

p-Hydroxy benzyl alcohol

HQ:

Hydroquinone or 1–4-benzendiol

HRCs:

Hairy root cultures

PCS:

Plant cell suspension

PF:

Precursor feed or supplementation

RK:

Raspberry ketone

SA:

Salicylic acid

SM:

Secondary metabolism

TBA:

3,4,5-trimethoxy benzaldehyde

THPB:

Tetrahydroprotoberberines

YE:

Yeast extract

References

  1. Giri A, Dhingra V, Giri CC, Singh A, Ward OP, Narasu ML (2001) Biotransformations using plant cells, organ cultures and enzyme systems: current trends and future prospects. Biotechnol Adv 19(3):175–199

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Banerjee S, Singh S, Rahman LU (2012) Biotransformation studies using hairy root cultures – a review. Biotechnol Adv 30(3):461–468. doi:10.1016/j.biotechadv.2011.08.010

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Vasic-Racki D (2006) History of industrial biotransformations – dreams and realities. Industrial biotransformations. Wiley, New York. doi:10.1002/9783527614165.ch2

    Google Scholar 

  4. Hussain MS, Fareed S, Ansari S, Rahman MA, Ahmad IZ, Saeed M (2012) Current approaches toward production of secondary plant metabolites. J Pharm Bioallied Sci 4(1):10–20. doi:10.4103/0975-7406.92725

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Rao SR, Ravishankar GA (2002) Plant cell cultures: chemical factories of secondary metabolites. Biotechnol Adv 20(2):101–153

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Karuppusamy S (2009) A review on trends in production of secondary metabolites from higher plants by in vitro tissue, organ and cell cultures. J Med Plant Res 3(13):1222–1239

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Wink M, Alfermann AW, Franke R, Wetterauer B, Distl M, Windhövel J, Krohn O, Fuss E, Garden H, Mohagheghzadeh A, Wildi E (2005) Sustainable bioproduction of phytochemicals by plant in vitro cultures: anticancer agents. Plant Gen Resour 3(2):90–100. doi:10.1079/PGR200575

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Georgiev MI, Agostini E, Ludwig-Müller J, Xu J (2012) Genetically transformed roots: from plant disease to biotechnological resource. Trends Biotechnol 30(10):528–537. doi:10.1016/j.tibtech.2012.07.001

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Guillon S, Trémouillaux-Guiller J, Pati PK, Rideau M, Gantet P (2006) Harnessing the potential of hairy roots: dawn of a new era. Trends Biotechnol 24(9):403–409. doi:10.1016/j.tibtech.2006.07.002

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Guillon S, Trémouillaux-Guiller J, Pati PK, Rideau M, Gantet P (2006) Hairy root research: recent scenario and exciting prospects. Curr Opin Plant Biol 9(3):341–346. doi:10.1016/j.pbi.2006.03.008

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Mehrotra S, Srivastava V, Rahman LU, Kukreja AK (2015) Hairy root biotechnology – indicative timeline to understand missing links and future outlook. Protoplasma 252(5):1189–1201. doi:10.1007/s00709-015-0761-1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Chandra S (2012) Natural plant genetic engineer Agrobacterium rhizogenes: role of T-DNA in plant secondary metabolism. Biotechnol Lett 34(3):407–415. doi:10.1007/s10529-011-0785-3

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Chandra S, Chandra R (2011) Engineering secondary metabolite production in hairy roots. Phytochem Rev 10(3):371–395. doi:10.1007/s11101-011-9210-8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Ono NN, Tian L (2011) The multiplicity of hairy root cultures: prolific possibilities. Plant Sci 180(3):439–446. doi:10.1016/j.plantsci.2010.11.012

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Mehrotra S, Rahman LU, Kukreja AK (2010) An extensive case study of hairy-root cultures for enhanced secondary-metabolite production through metabolic-pathway engineering. Biotechnol Appl Biochem 56(4):161–172. doi:10.1042/BA20100171

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Mehrotra S, Goel MK, Rahman LU, Kukreja AK (2013) Molecular and chemical characterization of plants regenerated from Ri-mediated hairy root cultures of Rauwolfia serpentina. Plant Cell Tissue Organ Cult 114(1):31–38. doi:10.1007/s11240-013-0302-6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Srivastava V (2015) Studies on hairy roots as bioreactors for normal and elicited biotransformation of exogenous molecules. Ph.D thesis, University of Lucknow, India

    Google Scholar 

  18. Chen X, Zhang J, Liu JH, Yu BY (2008) Biotransformation of p-, m-, and o-hydroxybenzoic acids by Panax ginseng hairy root cultures. J Mol Catal B Enzym 54(3):72–75. doi:10.1016/j.molcatb.2007.12.015

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Yan CY, Ma WL, Yan WW, Yu RM (2008) Biotransformation of furannoligularenone by hairy root cultures of Polygonum multiflorum. J Chin Med Mater 31(5):633–635

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Srivastava V, Kaur R, Chattopadhyay SK, Banerjee S (2013) Production of industrially important cosmaceutical and pharmaceutical derivatives of betuligenol by Atropa belladonna hairy root mediated biotransformation. Ind Crop Prod 44:171–175

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Ge HX, Zhang J, Lu LL, Yu BY (2014) Biotransformation of tetrahydroprotoberberines by Panax ginseng hairy root culture. J Mol Catal B Enzym 110:133–139. doi:10.1016/j.molcatb.2014.10.001

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Srivastava V, Negi AS, Ajayakumar PV, Khan SA, Banerjee S (2012) Atropa belladonna hairy roots: orchestration of concurrent oxidation and reduction reactions for biotransformation of carbonyl compounds. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 166(6):1401–1408. doi:10.1007/s12010-011-9533-3

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Kanho H, Yaoya S, Itani T, Nakane T, Kawahara N, Takase Y, Masuda K, Kuroyanagi M (2004) Glucosylation of phenolic compounds by Pharbitis nil hairy roots: I. Glucosylation of coumarin and flavone derivatives. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 68(10):2032–2039. doi:10.1271/bbb.68.2032

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Yan C, Ma W, Liang J, Lu H, Zhang D, Yu R (2008) Biotransformation of eight active constituents by hairy roots of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. J Chin Biotechnol 28(4):78–81

    Google Scholar 

  25. Caron D, Coughlan AP, Simard M, Bernier J, Piché Y, Chênevert R (2005) Stereoselective reduction of ketones by Daucus carota hairy root cultures. Biotechnol Lett 27(10):713–716. doi:10.1007/s10529-005-5187-y

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Yan CY, Yu RM, Zhang Z, Kong LY (2007) Biotransformation of 4-hydroxybenzen derivatives by hairy root cultures of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. J Integr Plant Biol 49(2):207–212. doi:10.1111/j.1744-7909.2007.00400.x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Orden AA, Bisogno FR, Cifuente DA, Giordano OS, Sanz MK (2006) Asymmetric bioreduction of natural xenobiotic diketones by Brassica napus hairy roots. J Mol Catal B Enzym 42(3):71–77. doi:10.1016/j.molcatb.2006.06.010

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Orden AA, Magallanes-Noguera C, Agostini E, Kurina-Sanz M (2009) Anti-Prelog reduction of ketones by hairy root cultures. J Mol Catal B Enzym 61(3):216–220. doi:10.1016/j.molcatb.2009.07.007

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Shimoda K, Kubota N, Sano T, Hirakawa H, Hirata T (2004) A novel hydroxylase from Catharanthus roseus participating in the hydroxylation of 2-hydroxybenzoic acid. J Biosci Bioeng 98(2):67–70. doi:10.1016/S1389-1723(04)70244-3

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Kanho H, Yaoya S, Kawahara N, Nakane T, Takase Y, Masuda K, Kuroyanagi M (2005) Biotransformation of benzaldehyde-type and acetophenone-type derivatives by Pharbitis nil hairy roots. Chem Pharm Bull 53(4):361–365. doi:10.1248/cpb.53.361

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Zhou ML, Zhu XM, Shao JR, Tang YX, Wu YM (2011) Production and metabolic engineering of bioactive substances in plant hairy root culture. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 90(4):1229–1239. doi:10.1007/s00253-011-3228-0

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Morgan JA, Shanks JV (2000) Determination of metabolic rate-limitations by precursor feeding in Catharanthus roseus hairy root cultures. J Biotechnol 79:137–145

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Hashimoto T, Yamada Y (1983) Scopolamine production in suspension cultures and redifferentiated roots of Hyoscyamus niger. Planta Med 47(4):195–199

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Shinde AN, Nutan M, Devanand PF (2009) Enhanced production of phytoestrogenic isoflavones from hairy root cultures of Psoralea corylifolia L. using elicitation and precursor feeding. Biotechnol Bioprocess Eng 14:288–294. doi:10.1007/s12257-008-0238-6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Łuczkiewicz M, Adam K (2005) Genista tinctoria hairy root cultures for selective production of isoliquiritigenin. Z Naturforsch 60c:867–875

    Google Scholar 

  36. Kim Y, Barbara EW, Weathers PJ (2002) Secondary metabolism of hairy root cultures in bioreactors. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Plant 38:1–10. doi:10.1079/IVP2001243

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Sung LS, Huang SY (2000) Headspace ethylene accumulation on Stizolobium hassjoo hairy root culture producing L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine. Biotechnol Lett 22:875–878. doi:10.1023/A:1005679800393

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Goers L, Freemont P, Polizzi KM (2014) Co-culture systems and technologies: taking synthetic biology to the next level. J Roy Soc Inter 11(96). doi:10.1098/rsif.2014.0065

    Google Scholar 

  39. Subroto MA, Kwok KH, Hamill JD, Doran PM (1996) Co-culture of genetically transformed roots and shoots for synthesis, translocation, and biotransformation of secondary metabolites. Biotechnol Bioeng 49(5):481–494. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1097-0290

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Łuczkiewicz M, Kokotkiewicz A (2005) Co-cultures of shoots and hairy roots of Genista tinctoria L. for synthesis and biotransformation of large amounts of phytoestrogens. Plant Sci 169(5):862–871. doi:10.1016/j.plantsci.2005.06.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Lin HW, Kwok KH, Doran PM (2003) Production of podophyllotoxin using cross-species c-culture of Linum flavum hairy roots and Podophyllum hexandrum cell suspensions. Biotechnol Prog 19(5):1417–1426. doi:10.1021/bp034036h

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Uden-Van W, Pras N, Malingré TM (1990) On the improvement of the podophyllotoxin production by phenylpropanoid precursor feeding to cell cultures of Podophyllum hexandrum Royle. Plant Cell Tissue Organ Cult 23(3):217–224. doi:10.1007/BF00034435

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Sidwa-Gorycka M, Królicka A, Kozyra M, Głowniak K, Bourgaud F, Łojkowska E (2003) Establishment of a co-culture of Ammi majus L. and Ruta graveolens L. for the synthesis of furanocoumarins. Plant Sci 165(6):1315–1319. doi:10.1016/S0168-9452(03)00343-1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Wu JY, Ng J, Shi M, Wu SJ (2007) Enhanced secondary metabolite (tanshinone) production of Salvia miltiorrhiza hairy roots in a novel root–bacteria co-culture process. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 77(3):543–550. doi:10.1007/s00253-007-1192-5

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Faria JM, Sena I, Maleita CM, da Silva IV, Ascensão L, Abrantes I, Bennett RN, Mota M, Figueiredo AC (2014) In vitro co-culture of Solanum tuberosum hairy roots with Meloidogyne chitwoodi: structure, growth and production of volatiles. Plant Cell Tissue Organ Cult 118(3):519–530. doi:10.1007/s11240-0504-6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Pandey P, Singh S, Tewari N, Srinivas KVNS, Shukla A, Gupta N, Vasudev PG, Khan F, Pal A, Bhakuni RS, Tandon S (2015) Hairy root mediated functional derivatization of artemisinin and their bioactivity analysis. J Mol Catal B Enzym 113:95–103. doi:10.1016/j.molcatb.2015.01.007

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Cai J, Ding J, Hua Y, Nan L (2005) Establishment of biotransformation system of the gastrodin biosynthesis by hairy root of Panax ginseng. J Plant Resour Environ 14(2):29–31

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Zhou L, Ruan D, He Z, Zhu H, Yang C, Wang J (1997) Biotransformation of artemisinin by hairy roots of Cyanotis arachnoidea. Acta Bot Yunnanica 20(2):229–232, ISSN: 0253–2700 CN: 53-1039/Q

    Google Scholar 

  49. Lixin L, Yanfang S, Xiaofeng L, Dean G (2002) Biotransformation of artemisinin by hairy root cultures of Rheum palmatum L. J Chin Pharm Sci 11(4):122–124

    Google Scholar 

  50. Häkkinen ST, Seppänen-Laakso T, Oksman-Caldentey KM, Rischer H (2015) Bioconversion to raspberry ketone is achieved by several non-related plant cell cultures. Front Plant Sci 6:1035. doi:10.3389/fpls.2015.01035

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Nunes IS, Faria JM, Figueiredo AC, Pedro LG, Trindade H, Barroso JG (2009) Menthol and geraniol biotransformation and glycosylation capacity of Levisticum officinale hairy roots. Planta Med 75(4):387–391. doi:10.1055/s-0028-1112217

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Liu Y, Cheng KD, Zhu P, Feng WH, Meng C, Zhu HX, He HX, Ma XJ (2004) Biotransformation of dehydroepiandrosterone by hairy root cultures of Anisodus tanguticus. Acta Pharm Sin 39(6):445–448

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Kawaguchi K, Hirotani M, Yoshikawa T, Furuya T (1990) Biotransformation of digitoxigenin by ginseng hairy root cultures. Phytochem 29(3):837–843. doi:10.1016/0031-9422(90)80029-G

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Faria JM, Nunes IS, Figueiredo AC, Pedro LG, Trindade H, Barroso JG (2009) Biotransformation of menthol and geraniol by hairy root cultures of Anethum graveolens: effect on growth and volatile components. Biotechnol Lett 31(6):897–903. doi:10.1007/s10529-009-9934-3

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Suga T, Hirata T (1990) Biotransformation of exogenous substrates by plant cell cultures. Phytochem 29(8):2393–2406. doi:10.1016/0031-9422(90)85155-9

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Ishimaru K, Yamanaka M, Terahara N, Shimomura K, Okamoto D, Yoshihira K (1996) Biotransformation of phenolics by hairy root cultures of five herbal plants. Jpn J Food Chem 3:38–42

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Peng CX, Gong JS, Zhang XF, Zhang M, Zheng SQ (2010) Production of gastrodin through biotransformation of p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol using hairy root cultures of Datura tatula L. Afr J Biotechnol 7(3):211–216

    Google Scholar 

  58. Dong QF, Jia JZ, Zhu JH, Yu RM (2009) Biotransformation of thymol by hairy roots of transgenic Polygonum multiflorum. J Chin Med Mater 32(10):1495–1499

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Singh P, Khan S, Pandey SS, Singh M, Banerjee S, Kitamura Y, Rahman LU (2015) Vanillin production in metabolically engineered Beta vulgaris hairy roots through heterologous expression of Pseudomonas fluorescens HCHL gene. Ind Crop Prod 74:839–848. doi:10.1016/j.indcrop.2015.05.037

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Liu L, Zhang M, Zhou L, Zhu J, Guan S, Yu R (2012) Biotransformation of 3, 4- cyclocondensed coumarins by transgenic hairy roots of Polygonum multiflorum. Afr J Pharm Pharmacol 6(44):3047–3054. doi:10.5897/AJPP11.858

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Zhou L, Liang Y, Wang W, Tan H, Xiao M, Fan C, Yu R (2011) Biotransformation of 4-phenylcoumarin by transgenic hairy roots of Polygonum multiflorum. J Med Plant Res 5:4274–4278. doi:10.1007/s00709-013-0554-3

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Zhou L, Tian T, Xue B, Song L, Liu L, Yu R (2012) Biosynthesis of coumarin glycosides by transgenic hairy roots of Polygonum multiflorum. BioSci Biotechnol Biochem 76(5):1008–1010. doi:10.1271/bbb.110347

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. Liang Y, Deng WJ, Zhou LB, Yan CY, Yu RM (2011) Biotransformation of 4-methyl-7-allyloxy coumarin by transgenic hairy roots of Polygonum multiflorum. J Chin Med Mater 34(6):901–904

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Deng W, Zhou L, Yu R (2011) Biotransformation of daphnetin by suspension transgenic hairy roots of Polygonum multiflorum. Chin J Chin Mat Med 36(3):351–355

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  65. Dong QF, Jia JZ, Zhu JH, Yu RM (2009) Biotransformation of thymol by hairy roots of transgenic Polygonum multiflorum. J Chin Med Mat 32(10):1495–1499

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Grech-Baran M, Sykłowska-Baranek K, Krajewska-Patan A, Wyrwał A, Pietrosiuk A (2014) Biotransformation of cinnamyl alcohol to rosavins by non-transformed wild type and hairy root cultures of Rhodiola kirilowii. Biotechnol Lett 36(3):649–656. doi:10.1007/s10529-013-1401-5

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. Casas DA, Pitta-Alvarez SI, Giulietti AM (1998) Biotransformation of hydroquinone by hairy roots of Brugmansia candida and effect of sugars and free-radical scavengers. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 69:127–136. doi:10.1007/BF02919394

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  68. Bergier K, Polaszczyk B, Gajewska E, Wielanek M, Krolicka A, Sklodowska M (2008) Glucosylation of hydroquinone to arbutin by hairy roots of Physalis ixocarpa. Zesz Probl Postep Nauk Rol 524:339–347

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, 110067, New Delhi, India

    Vikas Srivastava

  2. Department of Plant Sciences, Central University of Jammu, Rahya-Suchani (Bagla), Dist, 181143, Samba, Jammu (J & K), India

    Vikas Srivastava

  3. Plant Biotechnology Division, Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, India

    Shakti Mehrotra

  4. National Institute of Plant Genome Research, PO: CIMAP; Picnic spot Road, 226015, New Delhi, India

    Sonal Mishra

Authors
  1. Vikas Srivastava
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shakti Mehrotra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sonal Mishra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Vikas Srivastava , Shakti Mehrotra or Sonal Mishra .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Calcutta University, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

    Sumita Jha

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this entry

Cite this entry

Srivastava, V., Mehrotra, S., Mishra, S. (2016). Biotransformation Through Hairy Roots: Perspectives, Outcomes, and Major Challenges. In: Jha, S. (eds) Transgenesis and Secondary Metabolism. Reference Series in Phytochemistry. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27490-4_10-1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27490-4_10-1

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-27490-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Biomedicine and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation