CYCLODEXTRINS AS A USEFUL TOOL FOR BIOCONVERSIONS IN PLANT-CELL BIOTECHNOLOGY

The application of cyclodextrins as precursor solubilizers in biotechnological processes, in which plant cells are involved, is new. In this paper the possibilities for cyclodextrin facilitated bioconversions by freely suspended and/or immobilized plant cells or plant enzymes are demonstrated. After complexation with beta-cyclodextrin, the phenolic steroid 17 beta-estradiol could be ortho-hydroxylated into a catechol, mainly 4-hydroxyestradiol, by a phenoloxidase from in vitro grown cells of Mucuna pruriens. By complexation with beta-cyclodextrin the solubility of the steroid increased from almost insoluble to 660 mu M. In addition, by complexation with beta-cyclodextrin, a solution of 3 mM coniferyl alcohol could be fed to cell cultures of Podophyllum hexandrum in order to enhance the accumulation of podophyllotoxin. Finally, the glucosylation of podophyllotoxin by cell cultures derived from Linum flavum was investigated. Four cyclodextrins: beta-cyclodextrin, gamma-cyclodextrin, hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin and dimethyl-beta-cyclodextrin were used to improve the solubility of podophyllotoxin. Dimethyl-beta-cyclodextrin met our needs the best and the solubility of podophyllotoxin could be enhanced from 0.15 to 1.92 mM. Podophyllotoxin-beta-D-glucoside was formed at a rate of 0.51 mmol l(-1) suspension per day by the L. flavum cells growing in the presence of 1.35 mM podophyllotoxin, complexed with dimethyl-beta-cyclodextrin.