ELICITATION OF TAXUS SP CELL-CULTURES FOR PRODUCTION OF TAXOL

The addition of cell extracts and cultures filtrate of Pencillium mini oluteum, Botrytis cinerea, Verticillium dahliae, and Gilocladium deliq ucescens on the tenth day after transferring Taxus sp. (R01-M28) cell suspensions into an induction medium, further improved the production of Taxol(R) and total taxanes. Arachidonic acid (1mg/L) addition at th e time of inoculation increased Taxol production by 150%. Oxidative st ress induction and copper sulphate or sodium orthovanadate addition ha d no effect on Taxol production. Three categories of elicitors; those specifically stimulating Taxol production, those specifically stimulat ing the producion of other taxanes, and those stimulating taxane produ ction uniformly, could be identified. The biosynthetic site of action of these elicitors is currently not known.