Induction of phenoloxidase in cell suspension cultures of Mucuna pruriens L. : Effects on accumulation of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine and biotransformation capacity.

The effects of limitating nitrogen-containing compounds in the medium and of adding the amino-acid analogues p-fluorophenylalanine and ethionine on both phenoloxidase activity and the accumulation of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) are reported for cell suspension cultures of Mucuna pruriens. Nitrogen limitation of the cultures, or the addition of p-fluorophenylalanine or ethionine to the culture medium resulted in an increased phenoloxidase activity. There appeared to be an inverse relationship between phenoloxidase activity and the acccumulation of L-tyrosine into L-DOPA by alginate-entrapped cells occurred at a higher rate when phenoloxidase activity was increased.