Increased formation of cinnamoyl putrescines by fedbatch fermentation of cell suspension cultures of Nicotiana tabacum.

The tobacco cell line TX1 (Nicotiana tabacum) accumulates up to 10 mg cinnamoyl putrescines/g dry weight. This level was further increased under various growth limiting conditions. The negative effect of accumulated phosphate on the optimal expression of cinnamoyl putrescine biosynthesis was prevented by the fedbatch fermentation technique. A batch fermenter yielded 160 mg cinnamoyl putrescines/1 while a phosphate fedbatch fermentation produced 400 mg/1. This was mainly due to the fact that P in the cells was kept low during the whole growth cycle.