Effect of oxygen supply on berberine production in cell suspension cultures and immobilized cells ofThalictrum minus.

The ample supply of O2 proved to be of great importance for berberine production in cell suspension culture ofThalictrum minus, as the specific O2 consumption rate of berberine-producing cells was twice as high as that of non-producing cells. Furthermore, berberine yield increased with increases in the volumetric O2 transfer coefficient (KLa). Estimation of the optimum conditions of oxygen supply in suspension cultures and immobilized cells according to a known theoretical model assuming O2 uptake by cells to be a zero-order reaction was in good agreement with the experimental data. The O2 supply to immobilized cells could be improved by reducing the cell density and radius of the bead.