Phytohormone regulation of isoperoxidases in Catharanthus roseus suspension cultures.

Peroxidase (POD) activity was investigated in Catharanthus roseus cell suspensions cultured under different hormonal conditions. Depletion of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) from the culture medium enhanced POD activity in cells and spent medium. Addition of phytohormones, in particular the auxin 2,4-D, reduced POD activity in medium and cellular compartments and enhanced ionically cell-wall bound POD. The differential modulation of POD is due to hormone effects on synthesis and/or accumulation of POD, rather than on the secretion process. Qualitative analysis showed that 2,4-D, but not cytokinins, regulated the synthesis of a basic isoform. The cytokinin treatment seemed to affect acidic rather than basic isoforms. The presence of basic POD is correlated with the capacity of cells to produce indole alkaloids. The major extracellular basic isoperoxidase was purified to homogeneity from culture medium of Catharanthus roseus cell suspensions. The isolated peroxidase is a haem protein with a M(r) of 33,000 and a pI close to 9. The effect of pH on peroxidase activity was studied using guaiacol as substrate and the optimum pH determined at 25 degrees was 6.0. This enzyme acted on guaiacol, 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), o-dianisidine, o-phenylenediamine (o-PD) and pyrogallol, but had no effect on syringaldazine or coniferyl alcohol substrates.