Jasmonic acid stimulates taxane production in cell suspension culture of yew (Taxus x media).

Cell lines of Taxus x media Rehd. were established via embryo and callus culture and grown on B5 medium containing 10 microM 2,4-D and 1 microM kinetin. Jasmonic acid (JA) was used to elicit taxane synthesis in a selected yew cell line. 100 microM JA was added 7 days after subculture. JA strongly increased taxane content in the cells and in the medium. At the time of the highest amount in elicited cultures, the enhancement of paclitaxel production was 19-fold and 4-fold in the cells and medium, respectively, compared to controls (non-elicited cultures). The time course of taxane accumulation in the cells and in the medium and the release of taxanes into the medium were not changed after JA elicitation.