1Centre for Biotechnology, Hamdard University, New Delhi 110 062, India
2Plant Polyamine and Transgenic Research Laboratory, Department of Genetics, University of Delhi-South Campus, New Delhi 110 021, India
*Corresponding author. E-Mail: pss410@rediffmail.com
Abbreviations:adc, arginine decarboxylase; BA, benzyladenine; CH, casein hydrolysate; NAA, α-naphthaleneacetic acid; odc, ornithine decarboxylase; PUT, putrescine; SPD, spermidine; SPM, spermine; WB, Wood and Braun.
The genes (adc and odc) for two enzymes, arginine decarboxylase and ornithine decarboxylase involved in polyamine biosynthesis, were introduced into anther-derived calli of Datura innoxia through Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The transformed calli exhibited increased regeneration frequency as compared to control. Transgenic lines showed higher polyamine levels, mainly in the putrescine titre, and such lines also yielded a high level of the alkaloid, hyoscyamine. The results suggest that polyamines can modulate in vitro morphogenesis and polyamine biosynthetic pathway can be exploited for enhancement of polyamine-derived alkaloids of pharmaceutical importance.
Datura, polyamines, hyoscyamine
