In vitro production of dianthin from crown gall lines of carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.)

Tumorous crown gall lines of carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) were obta ined by transforming leaf explants by the co-cultivation procedure; transfo rmed lines were checked for their ability to produce in vitro the type I ri bosome-inactivating proteins dianthins. Crude extracts from cultured callus were able to inhibit protein synthesis in a cell-free system based on rabb it reticulocyte lysate. A protein with an apparent molecular mass comparabl e to that of dianthin 30 from leaves was identified from its chromatographi c behaviour and by Western analysis. Dianthin from callus showed a specific activity comparable to that reported for the leaf isoform. The presence an d accumulation in the tumorous line of a 37 kDa protein with no ribosome-in activating activity and strong antigenic reactivity to dianthins is discuss ed.