Immobilization of Nicotiana tabacum plant cell suspensions within calcium alginate gel beads for the production of enhanced amounts of scopolin

Scopolin-producing cells of Nicotiana tabacum were immobilized within Ca-al ginate gel beads. Free cell suspensions accumulated scopolin within cytopla smic compartments and cell disruption was necessary to recover scopolin. On the contrary, immobilized plant cells excreted considerable amounts of sco polin. Scopolin diffused throughout the gel matrix and reached the culture media. A large fraction of produced scopolin could then be recovered from t he culture medium without disrupting cells. Immobilized N. tabacum cells pr oduced more scopolin than free cell suspensions did (3.8 mg/g fresh weight biomass [into the culture media] versus 0.2 mg/g fresh weight biomass [intr acellular]). Variation of the immobilization conditions revealed a marked i nfluence on the behavior of N. tabacum plant cells: production of scopolin and enhanced excretion, cell growth, and morphological aspect of plant cell colonies. This excretion phenomenon could be used advantageously at an ind ustrial production level. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserve d.