title: Production of imidazole alkaloids in cell cultures of jaborandi as affected by the medium pH.
abstract: The effect of pH (from 4.8 to 9.8) on the production of pilosine and pilocarpine and on their partition between cell and medium was studied in two lineages (P and PP) of Pilocarpus microphyllus cell suspension cultures. Highest mass accumulation was observed at high pHs and both lineages produced pilocarpine while only lineage PP produced pilosine. Both alkaloids were released in the medium but higher accumulation occurred in the cells. The highest production of pilocarpine was at pH 8.8-9.8 in both cell lineages. Other imidazole alkaloids were also identified in both lineages. At all pHs tested, the pH in the media cultures tended to stabilize around 6 after 10-15 days of cultivation. NO3(-) and NH4+ variation in the media might partially explain the pH stabilization.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia Vegetal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, CP 6109, Campinas 13083-970, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: N L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Andreazza
authors.forename: I N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Abreu
authors.forename: A C H F
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Sawaya
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Eberlin
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mazzafera
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry*; D003600:Cytosol / Q000737:chemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000378:metabolism*; D009566:Nitrates / Q000032:analysis; D010862:Pilocarpine / Q000378:metabolism*; D032103:Pilocarpus / Q000378:metabolism*; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D003470:Culture Media; D007093:Imidazoles; D009566:Nitrates; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D010862:Pilocarpine