Planta Med 1987; 53(4): 364-367
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-962739
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© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Time-Course Studies in Indole Alkaloid Accumulation and Changes in Tryptophan Decarboxylase and Strictosidine Synthase Activities: A Comparison in Three Strains of Catharanthus roseus Cells

P. Doireau1 , J. M. Meriollon2 , A. Guillot1 , M. Rideau2 , J. C. Chenieux2 , M. Brillard1
  • 1Laboratoire de Physiologie Végétale, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Tours, F-37032 Tours Cédex, France.
  • 2Laboratoire de Biotechnologie Végétale, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Tours, F-37032 Tours Cédex, France.
Further Information

Publication History

1986

Publication Date:
24 January 2007 (online)

Abstract

Three different strains of Catharanthus roseus cells were compared during one subculture with regard to tryptophan, tryptamine, ajmalicine, serpentine contents and tryptophane decarboxylase (TDC)4 and Strictosidine synthase activities. The strains differed greatly in their accumulation of tryptamine and alkaloid. The TDC of all three strains showed the highest activity during the growth phase and declined sharply at the end of this phase. On the contrary, strictosidine synthase activity was the lowest during the growth phase and increased distinctly at the same time when the alkaloids were accumulating. By comparing the three strains with each other, no correlation was observed between the values of enzymatic activities and the contents of accumulated alkaloids.