PACLITAXEL PRODUCTION IN SUSPENSION CELL-CULTURES OF TAXUS

Five separate cell lines, three of Taxus canadensis Marsh. and two of Taxus cuspidata Sieb. et Zucc., were used to test the effect of carboh ydrates and plant growth regulators on the growth of cells and product ion of paclitaxel in culture. There was no significant correlation bet ween growth of cells and paclitaxel production. While no single medium was developed that was optimal for all cell lines, it was possible to develop a medium for each species that represented a superior combina tion of growth and paclitaxel production. A combination of NAA and thi diazuron produced the best combination of growth and paclitaxel produc tion in cell lines of T canadensis, while IAA. and BA produced the bes t results in cell Lines of T cuspidata. A mixture of sucrose and fruct ose gave the best combination of growth and paclitaxel production. The addition of carbohydrates midway through the growth cycle increased t he rate at which paclitaxel accumulated in the culture medium. The hig hest paclitaxel concentration obtained was 14.78 +/- 0.86 mg l(-1) (n= 3).