title: Kinetics of taxol production and nutrient use in suspension cultures of Taxus cuspidata in shake flasks and a Wilson-type bioreactor.
abstract: Suspension cultures of Taxus cuspidata were grown in shake flasks and Wilson-type reactors where bubbled air provided both agitation and mixing. Taxol titers of 22 mg l-1 were achieved for both configurations in 20 days for a volumetric productivity of 1.1 mg l-1 day-1. This productivity is many-fold higher than reported for other Taxus sp. suspension cultures. Taxol was released to the extracellular medium as it was produced with little intracellular retention (< or = 10%). Taxol production occurred during the last seven days of the cultivation period and was not growth-associated. Although the same taxol titers could be obtained in both reactor types, nutrient uptake rates were faster in the Wilson-type reactor than in shake flasks. Formation of a growth ring in the Wilson-type reactor reduced measured cell mass yields.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-5201, USA.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Pestchanker
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Shuler
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018533:Biomass; D019149:Bioreactors; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D005632:Fructose / Q000378:metabolism; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009566:Nitrates / Q000378:metabolism; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry; D013395:Sucrose / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D003470:Culture Media; D009566:Nitrates; D010710:Phosphates; D005632:Fructose; D013395:Sucrose; D005947:Glucose; D017239:Paclitaxel; D010100:Oxygen; D002118:Calcium