Enhancement of paclitaxel production by temperature shift in suspension culture of Taxus chinensis

Effect of temperature shift during culture period on cell growth and paclitaxel was investigated to optimize paclitaxel production in suspension culture of Taxus chinensis. Cell growth showed the optimum at 24°C while paclitaxel synthesis showed the maximum at 29°C. To minimize the inhibitory effect of higher temperature on cell growth, temperature was shifted after a certain period of culture time at 24°C. Paclitaxel synthesis in plant cell culture increased dramatically during day 14 to day 21 regardless of treatment, reaching the maximum production of 137.5 mg paclitaxel/L. When the temperature was maintained at 29°C after day 21, the specific productivity of paclitaxel was sustained for prolonged period of 42 days. The possible relationship between temperature and paclitaxel synthetic pathway was also suggested.