title: Mucuna pruriens: improvement of the biotechnological production of the anti-Parkinson drug L-dopa by plant cell selection.
abstract: Routinely grown cell suspension cultures of Mucuna pruriens L. (Fabaceae) were able to endogenously accumulate the anti-Parkinson drug L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-dopa) in the range between 0.2 and 2% on a dry weight (DW) basis. The green colour that developed in light-exposed cultures, appeared to be a suitable marker to select cells with an increased L-dopa biosynthesis and/or phenoloxidase activity. For this purpose, saccharose concentrations from 0 to 4% (w/v), and light intensities of 1,000 and 2,000 lux, were involved in the selection procedure. After 6 months, photomixotrophic callus cultures with a rapid growth and a high L-dopa content of 0.9% (DW) were obtained on 2% saccharose and under 1,000 lux. The cell suspensions, derived from these calli, accumulated up to 6% (DW) L-dopa, which was the highest stable content ever measured in cultures of M. pruriens. An L-dopa yield of approximately 1.2 g/l was calculated after 6 days of growth. In contrast, compared wtih the standard-grown parent cell line, the phenoloxidase activity, and consequently the bioconversion capacity as measured after entrapment in calcium alginate, of these high-producing cultures was approximately threefold lower.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, University Centre for Pharmacy, Groningen University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pras
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Woerdenbag
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Batterman
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Van Uden
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000494:pharmacology; D001709:Biotechnology; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D007980:Levodopa / Q000378:metabolism*; D008027:Light; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D010788:Photosynthesis; D010944:Plants / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D002395:Catecholamines; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D014443:Tyrosine; D007980:Levodopa; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase