Showing papers by "Pauline M. Doran published in 1993"

Design of reactors for plant cells and organs

Abstract: To be economically feasible, production of most secondary metabolites by plant-cell culture requires high cell densities. In standard reactor configurations such as stirred-tank and airlift vessels, large-scale culture of plant cells encounters problems of shear damage, poor mixing, and inadequate mass transfer of oxygen. Immobilised cells and organised tissue such as embryos, roots and shoots often give enhanced levels of production; however, design of appropriate reactors is at an early stage. This paper identifies the rate-limiting processes in plant-cell culture, and discusses ways for improving reactor performance.

Effect of cell-cycle inhibition on synthesis of steroidal alkaloids by Solanum aviculare plant cells

Abstract: Addition of 40 mg l-1 hydroxyurea to Solanium aviculare cultures resulted in complete inhibition of growth and an increase in the levels of steroidal alkaloids in the biomass. These results demonstrate that solasodine synthesis and growth can be uncoupled, and suggest that steroidal-alkaloid production can be significantly enhanced by inhibiting growth at high cell density. Treatment with 1 mg l-1 abscisic acid had a negligible effect on growth and product synthesis.