Indole alkaloid accumulation and tryptophan decarboxylase activity in Catharanthus roseus cells cultured in three different media.

Catharanthus roseus cells were cultured in three types of media. These media were: a low sucrose subculture medium and two high sucrose media, each of which differed in their mineral and hormonal contents. The kinetics of tryptophan decarboxylase activity and the accumulations of tryptophan, tryptamine, ajmalicine and serpentine were different in each series but no correlation between maximum enzyme activity and alkaloid contents was observed. Ajmalicine and serpentine productions were unaffected by addition of Trp to the media, whereas addition of secologanin enhanced alkaloid production. The results seem to imply that the terpenoid pathway is the limiting factor in alkaloid production in C. roseus cells.