Methyl jasmonate-induced rosmarinic acid biosynthesis in Lithospermum erythrorhizon cell suspension cultures.

A dramatic increase in rosmarinic acid (RA) content in cultured cells of Lithospermum erythrorhizon was observed after their exposure to methyl jasmonate (MJ). Preceding the induced RA accumulation, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate reductase (HPR) activities increased rapidly and transiently, whereas tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) activity showed only a slight increase. The elicitation activity of MJ was much higher than that of yeast extract (YE) in terms of the induction of PAL and HPR activities, RA accumulation and incorporation of both (14)C-phenylalanine and (14)C-tyrosine into RA. However, the response of the cultured cells to MJ-treatment was slower than that to YE-treatment.