Skip to main content
Log in

Tryptophan decarboxylase activity in transformed roots fromCatharanthus roseus and its relationship to tryptamine, ajmalicine, and catharanthine accumulation during the culture cycle

  • Secondary Metabolism
  • Published:
In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Tryptophan decarboxylase (TDC), the enzyme that catalyzes the decarboxylation of tryptophan to trytamine, was studied in aCatharanthus roseus transformed root culture. Its activity was evaluated through the culture cycle (36 days), along with the variations in the tryptamine pool as well as the accumulation of alkaloids. Ajmalicine and catharanthine contents in the tissues increased coordinately with an increase in TDC-specific activity after 18 days of growth. No dramatic shifts were observed for the total alkaloid and tryptamine profiles.

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

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Blom, T. J. M.; Sierra, M.; Van Vliet, T. B., et al. Uptake and accumulation of ajmalicine into isolated vacuoles of cultured cells ofCatharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don. and its conversion into serpentine. Planta 183:170–177; 1991.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cordell, G. A. Introduction to alkaloids. A biogenetic approach. New York: John Wiley & Sons; 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doireau, P.; Mérillon, J. M.; Guillot, A., et al. Time-course studies on indole accumulation and changes in tryptophan decarboxylase and strictosidine synthase activities: a comparison in three strains ofCatharanthus roseus cells. Planta Med. 53:364–367; 1987.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eilert, U.; De Luca, L.; Constabel, F., et al. Elicitor-mediated induction of tryptophan decarboxylase and strictosidine synthase activities in cell suspension cultures ofCatharanthus roseus. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 254:491–497; 1987.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Facchini, P. J.; DiCosmo, F. Secondary metabolite biosynthesis in cultured cells ofCatharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don immobilized by adhesion to glass fibres. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 35:382–392; 1991.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gamborg, O. L.; Eveleigh, D. E. Culture methods and detection of glucanases in suspension cultures of wheat and barley. Can. J. Biochem. 46:414–421; 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knobloch, K.-H.; Hansen, B.; Berlin, J. Medium-induced formation of indole alkaloids and concomitant changes of interrelated enzyme activities in cell suspension cultures ofCatharanthus roseus. Z. Naturforsch. 36c:40–43; 1981.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mérillon, J. M.; Doireau, P.; Guillot, A., et al. Indole alkaloid accumulation and tryptophan decarboxylase activity inCatharanthus roseus cells cultured in three different media. Plant Cell Rep. 5:23–26; 1986.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Monforte-González, M.; Ayora-Talavera, T.; Maldonado-Mendoza, I., et al. Quantitative analysis of serpentine and ajmalicine in plant tissues ofCatharanthus roseus and hyoscyamine and scopolamine in root tissues ofDatura stramonium by densitometry in thin layer chromatography. Phytochem. Analysis 3:117–121; 1992.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nef, C.; Rio, B.; Chrestin, H. Induction of catharanthine synthesis and stimulation of major indole alkaloids production byCatharanthus roseus cells under non-growth-altering treatment withPythium vexans extracts. Plant Cell Rep. 10:26–29; 1991.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Parr, A. J.; Peerless, A. C. J.; Hamill, J. D., et al. Alkaloid production by transformed root cultures ofCatharanthus roseus. Plant Cell Rep. 7:309–312; 1988.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, G. L. A simplification of protein assay method of Lowry et al. which is more generally applicable. Anal. Biochem. 83:346–356; 1977.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Poulsen, C.; Verpoorte, R. Activities of chorismate utilizing enzymes and of enzymes involved in indole alkaloid biosynthesis in cell suspension cultures. Plant Physiol. Biochem. 30:105–113; 1992.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sasse, F.; Knobloch, K.-H.; Berlin, J. Induction of secondary metabolism in cell suspension cultures ofCatharanthus roseus, Nicotiana tabacum andPeganum harmala. In: Proceedings of 5th International Congress Plant Tissue and Cell Culture, Japan 1982:343–344.

  • Sasse, F.; Buchholz, M.; Berlin, J. Selection of cell lines ofCatharanthus roseus with increased tryptophan decarboxylase activity. Z. Naturforsch. 38:916–922; 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seitz, H. U.; De Luca, V.; Kurz, W. G. W. Elicitor-mediated induction of phenylalanine ammonia lyase and tryptophan decarboxylase accumulation of phenols and indole alkaloids in cell suspension cultures ofCatharanthus roseus. Plant Cell Tissue Organ Cult. 18:71–78; 1989.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Toivonen, L.; Balsevich, J.; Kurz, W. G. W. Indole alkaloid production by hairy root cultures ofCatharanthus roseus. Plant Cell Tissue Organ Cult. 18:79–93; 1989.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zenk, M. H. Enzymatic synthesis of ajamalicine and related indole alkaloids. J. Nat. Prod. (Lloydia) 43:438–451; 1980.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Islas, I., Loyola-Vargas, V.M. & de Lourdes Miranda-Ham, M. Tryptophan decarboxylase activity in transformed roots fromCatharanthus roseus and its relationship to tryptamine, ajmalicine, and catharanthine accumulation during the culture cycle. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol - Plant 30, 81–83 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02632125

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02632125

Key words

Navigation