title: Stimulation of synthesis and release of swainosonine from transformed roots of Swainsona galegifolia.
abstract: Transformed root cultures of Swainsona galegifolia were established for swainsonine production. Stimulation of production of swainsonine and its release into the culture medium was achieved using copper sulphate, reduction of medium pH and supply of swainsonine precursors. The yield of control cultures (0.3 g of roots grown in 15 ml medium for 30 days) was 79 micrograms swainsonine with only a trace of swainsonine in the medium. After treatment with 1 mM copper sulphate for two days before harvest on day 30, 155 micrograms of swainsonine was produced, of which 14.3 micrograms was in the medium. Reduction of medium pH from 5.7 to 2.7 for one day before harvest resulted in 159 micrograms of swainsonine (47 micrograms in the medium). Supplementation with 2 mM malonic acid for 12 days before harvest resulted in 187 micrograms total swainsonine (34 micrograms in the medium), while 2 mM pipecolic acid for six days before harvest gave the highest swainsonine yield (220 micrograms total, 43 micrograms in the medium). The increased yields were achieved through small increases in biomass, as well as increases in the level of swainsonine synthesis.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological and Environmental Science, Murdoch University, Australia.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Ermayanti
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: McComb
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: O'Brien
mesh_terms: D003300:Copper / Q000494:pharmacology; D019327:Copper Sulfate; D046508:Culture Techniques; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008314:Malonates / Q000494:pharmacology; D010875:Pipecolic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017026:Swainsonine; D014170:Transformation, Genetic
chemical_list: D008314:Malonates; D010875:Pipecolic Acids; D003300:Copper; C030290:malonic acid; C031345:pipecolic acid; D019327:Copper Sulfate; D017026:Swainsonine