Uptake and Metabolism of Sugars by Suspension Cultured Catharanthus roseus Cells

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Abstract
The uptake and metabolism of sugars by suspension-cultured Catharanthus roseus cells were investigated. Substantially all the sucrose in the culture medium was hydrolyzed to glucose and fructose before being taken up by the cells. The activity of invertase bound to cell walls, determined in situ, was high at the early stage of culture. Glucose was more easily taken up by the cells than was fructose. Tracer experiments using [U-14C]glucose and [U-14C]fructose indicated that glucose is a better precursor for respiration than fructose, while fructose is preferentially utilized for the synthesis of sucrose, especially in the early phase of cell growth. Possible metabolic routes of sugar in suspension-cultured Catharanthus roseus cells are discussed in the context of these results.