Comparison of elicitor-based effects on metabolic responses of Taxus × media hairy roots in perfluorodecalin-supported two-phase culture system

KEY MESSAGE: Two lines of Taxus × media hairy roots harbouring or not the TXS transgene demonstrated diverse gene expression and taxane yield during cultivation in PFD-supported two liquid-phase culture system. ABSTRACT: Two lines of Taxus × media hairy roots were subjected to single or twice-repeated supplementation with methyl jasmonate, sodium nitroprusside, l-phenylalanine, and sucrose feeding. One line harboured transgene of taxadiene synthase (ATMA), while the second (KT) did not. Both hairy root lines were cultured in two-phase culture systems containing perfluorodecalin (PFD) in aerated or degassed form. The relationship between TXS (taxadiene synthase), BAPT (baccatin III: 3-amino, 3-phenylpropanoyltransferase), and DBTNBT (3′-N-debenzoyl-2-deoxytaxol-N-benzoyltransferase) genes and taxane production was analysed. The ATMA and KT lines differed in their potential for taxane accumulation, secretion, and taxane profile. In ATMA biomass, both paclitaxel and baccatin III were detected, while in KT roots only paclitaxel. The most suitable conditions for taxane production for ATMA roots were found in single-elicited supported with PFD-degassed cultures (2 473.29 ± 263.85 µg/g DW), whereas in KT roots in single-elicited cultures with PFD-aerated (470.08 ± 25.15 µg/g DW). The extracellular levels of paclitaxel never exceeded 10% for ATMA roots, while for KT increased up to 76%. The gene expression profile was determined in single-elicited cultures supported with PFD-degassed, where in ATMA roots, the highest taxane yield was obtained, while in KT the lowest one. The gene expression pattern in both investigated root lines differed substantially what resulted in taxane yield characterized particular lines. The highest co-expression of TXS, BAPT and DBTNBT genes noted for ATMA roots harvested 48 h after elicitation corresponded with their higher ability for taxane production in comparison with the effects observed for KT roots. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1007/s00299-018-2351-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.