Growth and stoichiometry of a Catharanthus roseus cell suspension culture grown under nitrogen-limiting conditions.

The uptake of carbohydrate and nitrate by Catharanthus roseus cell suspension cultures was studied in relation to biomass production in shake flasks. Biomass production was similar when using either 6, 12, 18, or 24 mM nitrate as the nitrogen source and 20 g L(-1) sucrose as the carbon source. In all cases, maximum biomass production was reached when carbohydrates were entirely consumer by the cells. Apparent biomass yields, Y(X/S) and Y(X/N) were 0.49 g biomass g(-1) glucose equivalent and 0.23 g biomass mmol(-1) nitrate, respectively. The determination of the cellular carbon-to-nitrogen ration (C/N ration) resulted in the identification of three district growth phases: an active growth phase, and accumulation phase, and a biomass decline phase (endogenous metabolism). The onset of the last two phases was correlated with nitrate and sugar of the last two phases was correlated with nitrate and sugar exhaustion, respectively. Balanced stoichiometric equations describing the active growth and accumulation phases were proposed based on elemental composition and ash content of the biomass. The stoichiometric equation related to the accumulation phase predicts that the available sugars are stored as starch- and lipid-like materials.