RELEASE OF INTRACELLULARLY STORED ANTHRAQUINONES BY ENZYMATIC PERMEABILIZATION OF VIABLE PLANT-CELLS

The growth of plant cells is slow compared to microbial cells. One method of improving productivity is the synthesis of useful compounds by plant cells in a continuous process. The possible utilization of such an expensive biocatalyst in a continuous process can often not be realized because the product is stored within the cell. Thus, it is necessary to consider methods for their continuous release without sacrificing the viability and the biosynthetic capacity of the cells. A method for the release of anthraquinones while maintaining the viability of Morinda citrifolia cells by interaction of lipases with the tonoplast and plasma membrane lipids is presented. Lipozyme(R) treatment caused release of 7.0% of the total anthraquinone concentration during the exponential growth phase of Morinda citrifolia suspension cultures. Treatment with Optidex(R) caused the highest product release of 32% after 20 days of incubation, while the growth of cell cultures was suppressed.