THE GLUTATHIONE BIOSYNTHESIS INHIBITOR BUTHIONINE-SULFOXIMINE (BSO) INDUCES CARDENOLIDE ACCUMULATION IN DIGITALIS-LANATA TISSUE-CULTURE

Glutathione (GSH) and the glutathione biosynthesis inhibitor buthionin e-sulfoximine (BSO) affected the cardenolide accumulation in an embryo genic tissue culture strain of Digitalis lanata, 0.3 mM BSO increased the digitoxin yield to 183 % and the chlorophyll yield to 140 % of the control. GSH addition to the culture resulted in decreased digitoxin and chlorophyll yields in a dose dependent way. At 3.3 mM GSH the card enolide yield was 6 % of the control and the chlorophyll yield 31 %. G rowth was 112 % of the control at 0.33 mM GSH, but was inhibited by hi gher concentrations; at 3.3 mM GSH, the dry weight was 64 % of the con trol. The stimulating effect of BSO on digitoxin accumulation was dimi nished by the simultaneous addition of GSH. Is is suggested that the a bility of BSO to stimulate digitoxin and chlorophyll accumulation is c onnected with tissue differentiation.