ABSTRACT
Cell suspension cultures of Brassica napus were obtained under different hormonal conditions, using 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and kinetin as growth regulators. They were analyzed as a culture system for peroxidase production in vitro to avoid many of the problems that affect the production from field-grown roots. Total peroxidase specific activities reached a maximum at the end of exponential growth phase of the cultures. Cultures obtained with 4 mg/l of 2,4-D an without kinetin or with 1 mg/l of 2,4-D and the same amount of kinetin produced twice the total activity of root extracts and, in addition, they released peroxidases to the culture medium, which would be advantageous for the commercial production of the enzyme. Peroxidase patterns, obtained by isoelectric focusing of cell extracts and of culture medium of cell suspension cultures, differed from those of root crude extracts from field-grown plants with additional bands of higher isoelectric points. These cultures showed interesting properties and could be considered an alternative source of peroxidases for commercial production and/or to be applied as a model for physiological research.