A new fermentation strategy for S-adenosylmethionine production in recombinant Pichia pastoris

A recombinant Pichia pastoris MutS expressing SAM2 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was cultured for S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) accumulation. Effect of the amount of methanol added (0.5%, 1.0%, 2.0%, 3.0%, 4.0%, 6.0%, 10.0%, and 12.0%) and cell densities (9.57, 13.47, 21.74, 30.90, and 41.24 g/L dry cell weight (DCW)) on yield of SAM was found in flask cultivations. In flask experiments, maximal yield of SAM (1.29 g/L) was obtained at 2.0% methanol added and 30.90 g/L DCW which gave the maximal methanol consumption rate. Conjunct effect of amount of methanol added and cell density was found through Origin 7.0 (7.0 Microcal, USA). Scale up in 3.7 L bioreactor, 51% specific yield of SAM was enhanced at 0.6% methanol compared to that of 0.1% methanol. In fed-batches of different cell densities at 0.6% methanol, maximal yield of SAM was 8.66 g/L at 100 g/L DCW with 64% yield of SAM enhanced again. Methanol consumption rate at 100 g/L DCW was 4.81 mL/L h. Maintenance coefficient of 100 g/L DCW was lower than that of others significantly, although methanol consumption rate of 90 g/L DCW was higher (5.07 mL/L h) than that of 100 g/L DCW.     

Biological control of brown rot (Moniliana laxa Ehr.) on apricot (Prunus armeniaca L. cv. Hacıhaliloğlu) by Bacillus, Burkholdria, and Pseudomonas application under in vitro and in vivo conditions

In 2002 and 2003, a study was conducted to determine the effect of bacterial strains, Burkholdria OSU 7, Bacillus OSU 142, and Pseudomonas BA 8, on biological control of brown rot disease (Monilinia laxa Ehr.) on apricot cv. Hacıhaliloğlu in Malatya province of Turkey. Apricot orchard at full blooming stage was inoculated with conidial suspension (1 × 10⁶ spores/ml) of M. laxa Ehr. After inoculation, two apricot trees for each application were treated with each of the three biological control agents (Burkholdria gladii OSU 7, Bacillus subtilis OSU 142, and Pseudomonas putida BA 8) by spraying (1 × 10⁹ cfu/ml) on inoculated branches. Disease incidence was evaluated for untreated (control 1) and four different treatment groups including commercial disease management (control 2, positive control: 3% Bourdox in fall, 50% Cupper at pink flower, 30 g/100 l Corus at first blooming, and 300 g/100 l Captan at last blooming stage) and treatments including each of the three bacterial strains (OSU 7, OSU 142, and BA 8). The results showed that disease incidence for negative control (control 1) was 9.94, which was significantly higher than disease incidence for commercial application (2.57%) or bacterial treatments (2.82–5.00%) in the first year. In 2003, the lowest disease incidence observed in OSU 7 treatment (6.80%), while disease incidence rate for positive control and negative control were 9.45% and 28.46%, respectively. This result may suggest that OSU 7 has potential to be used as biopesticide for effective management of brown rot disease on apricot.     

Role of Glycerol Addition on Xylose-to-Xylitol Bioconversion by Candida guilliermondii

The effect of glycerol on xylose-to-xylitol bioconversion by Candida guilliermondii was evaluated by its addition (0.7 and 6.5 g/l) to semidefined media (xylose as a substrate). The glycerol concentrations were chosen based on the amounts produced during previous studies on xylitol production by C. guilliermondii. Medium without glycerol addition (control) and medium containing glycerol (53 g/l) in substitution to xylose were also evaluated. According to the results, the addition of 0.7 g/l glycerol to the fermentation medium favored not only the yield (Y _P/S = 0.78 g/g) but also the xylitol productivity (Q _P = 1.13 g/l/h). During the xylose-to-xylitol bioconversion, the formation of byproducts (glycerol and ethanol) was observed for all conditions employed. In relation to the cellular growth, glycerol as the only carbon source for C. guilliermondii was better than xylose or xylose and glycerol mixtures, resulting in a maximum cellular concentration (5.34 g/l).     

Medium optimization for the production of a novel bioflocculant from Halomonas sp. V3a′ using response surface methodology

The novel exopolysaccharide bioflocculant HBF-3 is produced by Halomonas sp. V3a′, which is a mutant strain of the deep-sea bacterium Halomonas sp. V3a. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize the production medium for increasing HBF-3 production. Using a Plackett–Burman experimental design to aid in the first step of optimization, edible glucose, MgSO₄·7H₂O, and NH₄Cl were found to be significant factors affecting HBF-3 production. To determine the optimal concentration of each significant variable, a central composite design was employed. Based on response surface and canonical analysis, the optimum concentrations of the critical components were obtained as follows: edible glucose, 16.14 g/l; MgSO₄·7H₂O, 2.73 g/l; and NH₄Cl, 1.97 g/l. HBF-3 production obtained by using the optimized medium was 4.52 g/l, which was in close agreement with the predicted value of 4.55 g/l. By scaling up fermentation from flask to fermenter, HBF-3 production was further increased to 5.58 g/l.     

Kinetic resolution of racemic 5,6-epoxy-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2-one using genetically engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae

(+)-5,6-Epoxy-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2-one, (+)-1, and endo-(−)-5,6-epoxy-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2-ol, endo-(−)-2, were obtained by kinetic resolution of rac-1 by asymmetric bioreduction catalyzed by whole cells of a genetically engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast strain. The strain, TMB4100, had 1% phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI) activity and overexpressed a specific short-chain dehydrogenase, encoded by the gene YMR226c. The whole cell biocatalyst was demonstrated to be significantly inactivated within 24 h, thus restricting the reaction to low concentration. Despite this, the resolution method could be used to produce optically pure (+)-1 and endo-(−)-2 from the racemic mixture at 5 g/L substrate. At optimal conditions, 1 g of rac-1 was kinetically resolved to give (+)-1 in 95% ee and 28% yield and endo-(−)-2 in 74% ee, 80% de and 45% yield.     

Bioethanol production from Gracilaria verrucosa using Saccharomyces cerevisiae adapted to NaCl or galactose

This study examined the pretreatment, enzymatic saccharification, and fermentation of the red macroalgae Gracilaria verrucosa using adapted saccharomyces cerevisiae to galactose or NaCl for the increase of bioethanol yield. Pretreatment with thermal acid hydrolysis to obtain galactose was carried out with 11.7% (w/v) seaweed slurry and 373 mM H₂SO₄ at 121 °C for 59 min. Glucose was obtained from enzymatic hydrolysis. Enzymatic saccharification was performed with a mixture of 16 U/mL Celluclast 1.5L and Viscozyme L at 45 °C for 48 h. Ethanol fermentation in 11.7% (w/v) seaweed hydrolysate was carried out using Saccharomyces cerevisiae KCTC 1126 adapted or non-adapted to high concentrations of galactose or NaCl. When non-adapted S. cerevisiae KCTC 1126 was used, the ethanol productivity was 0.09 g/(Lh) with an ethanol yield of 0.25. Ethanol productivity of 0.16 and 0.19 g/(Lh) with ethanol yields of 0.43 and 0.48 was obtained using S. cerevisiae KCTC 1126 adapted to high concentrations of galactose and NaCl, respectively. Adaptation of S. cerevisiae KCTC 1126 to galactose or NaCl increased the ethanol yield via adaptive evolution of the yeast.

     

Ethanol production from sweet sorghum juice in repeated-batch fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae immobilized on corncob

Ethanol fermentation from sweet sorghum juice containing 240 g/l of total sugar by Saccharomyces cerevisiae TISTR 5048 and S. cerevisiae NP 01 immobilized on low-cost support materials, corncob pieces, was investigated. In batch fermentation, S. cerevisiae TISTR 5048 immobilized on 6 × 6 × 6 mm³ corncobs gave higher ethanol production than those immobilized on 12 × 12 × 12 mm³ corncobs in terms of ethanol concentration (P), yield (Y _p/s ) and productivity (Q _p ) with the values of 102.39 ± 1.11 g/l, 0.48 ± 0.01 and 2.13 ± 0.02 g/l h, respectively. In repeated-batch fermentation, the yeasts immobilized on the 6 × 6 × 6 mm³ corncobs could be used at least eight successive cycles with the average P, Y _p/s and Q _p of 97.19 ± 5.02 g/l, 0.48 ± 0.02 and 2.02 ± 0.11 g/l h, respectively. Under the same immobilization and repeated-batch fermentation conditions, P (90.75 ± 3.05 g/l) and Q _p (1.89 ± 0.06 g/l h) obtained from S. cerevisiae NP 01 were significantly lower than those from S. cerevisiae TISTR 5048 (P < 0.05), while Y _p/s from both strains were not different. S. cerevisiae TISTR 5048 immobilized on the corncobs also gave significantly higher P, Y _p/s and Q _p than those immobilized on calcium alginate beads (P < 0.05).     

Enhanced synthesis of l - threo -3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine by high-density whole-cell biocatalyst of recombinant l -threonine aldolase from Streptomyces avelmitilis

l-threo-3,4-Dihydroxyphenylserine (DOPS) is a chiral unnatural β-hydroxy amino acid used for the treatment of Parkinson disease. We developed a continuous bioconversion system for DOPS production that uses whole-cell biocatalyst of recombinant Escherichia coli expressing l-threonine aldolase (l-TA) genes cloned from Streptomyces avelmitilis MA-4680. Maximum conversion rates were observed at 2 M glycine, 145 mM 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde, 0.75% Triton-X, 5 g E. coli cells/l, pH 6.5 and 10°C. In the optimized condition, overall productivity was 8 g/l, which represents 40 times the synthesis yield possible with no optimization of conditions.     

A genome shuffling-generated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharomyces cerevisiae</Emphasis> isolate that ferments xylose and glucose to produce high levels of ethanol

Genome shuffling is an efficient approach for the rapid improvement of industrially important microbial phenotypes. This report describes optimized conditions for protoplast preparation, regeneration, inactivation, and fusion using the Saccharomyces cerevisiae W5 strain. Ethanol production was confirmed by TTC (triphenyl tetrazolium chloride) screening and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A genetically stable, high ethanol-producing strain that fermented xylose and glucose was obtained following three rounds of genome shuffling. After fermentation for 84 h, the high ethanol-producing S. cerevisiae GS3-10 strain (which utilized 69.48 and 100% of the xylose and glucose stores, respectively) produced 26.65 g/L ethanol, i.e., 47.08% higher than ethanol production by S. cerevisiae W5 (18.12 g/L). The utilization ratios of xylose and glucose were 69.48 and 100%, compared to 14.83 and 100% for W5, respectively. The ethanol yield was 0.40 g/g (ethanol/consumed glucose and xylose), i.e., 17.65% higher than the yield by S. cerevisiae W5 (0.34 g/g).     

Microbial production of 3-hydroxydodecanoic acid by pha operon and fadBA knockout mutant of Pseudomonas putida KT2442 harboring tesB gene

To produce extracellular chiral 3-hydroxyacyl acids (3HA) by fermentation, a novel pathway was constructed by expressing tesB gene encoding thioesterase II into Pseudomonas putida KTOY01, which was a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthesis operon knockout mutant. 3HA mixtures of 0.35 g/l consisting of 3-hydroxyhexanoate, 3-hydroxyoctanoate, 3-hydroxydecanoate, and 3-hydroxydodecanoate (3HDD) were produced in shake-flask study using dodecanoate as a sole carbon source. Additional knockout of fadB and fadA genes encoding 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase in P. putida KTOY01 led to the weakening of the β-oxidation pathway. The fadBA and PHA synthesis operon knockout mutant P. putida KTOY07 expressing tesB gene produced 2.44 g/l 3HA, significantly more than that of the β-oxidation intact mutant. The 3HA mixture contained 90 mol% 3HDD as a dominant component. A fed-batch fermentation process carried out in a 6-l automatic fermentor produced 7.27 g/l extracellular 3HA containing 96 mol% fraction of 3HDD after 28 h of growth. For the first time, it became possible to produce 3HDD-dominant 3HA monomers. Ahleum Chung and Qian Liu contributed equally to this paper.     

Identification and characterization of fermentation inhibitors formed during hydrothermal treatment and following SSF of wheat straw

A pilot plant for hydrothermal treatment of wheat straw was compared in reactor systems of two steps (first, 80°C; second, 190–205°C) and of three steps (first, 80°C; second, 170–180°C; third, 195°C). Fermentation (SSF) with Sacharomyces cerevisiae of the pretreated fibers and hydrolysate from the two-step system gave higher ethanol yield (64–75%) than that obtained from the three-step system (61–65%), due to higher enzymatic cellulose convertibility. At the optimal conditions (two steps, 195°C for 6 min), 69% of available C6-sugar could be fermented into ethanol with a high hemicellulose recovery (65%). The concentration of furfural obtained during the pretreatment process increased versus temperature from 50 mg/l at 190°C to 1,200 mg/l at 205°C as a result of xylose degradation. S. cerevisiae detoxified the hydrolysates by degradation of several toxic compounds such as 90–99% furfural and 80–100% phenolic aldehydes, which extended the lag phase to 5 h. Acetic acid concentration increased by 0.2–1 g/l during enzymatic hydrolysis and 0–3.4 g/l during fermentation due to hydrolysis of acetyl groups and minor xylose degradation. Formic acid concentration increased by 0.5–1.5 g/l probably due to degradation of furfural. Phenolic aldehydes were oxidized to the corresponding acids during fermentation reducing the inhibition level.     

Comparison of two expression platforms in respect to protein yield and quality: Pichia pastoris versus Pichia angusta

The methylotrophic yeasts Pichia pastoris and Pichia angusta (Hansenula polymorpha) were used for the comparative heterologous production of two model mammalian proteins of pharmaceutical interest, the NK1-fragment (22 kDa) of human hepatocyte growth factor and the extracellular domain (28 kDa) of mouse tissue factor (MTF). Both recombinant proteins were engineered to contain an N-terminal Strep- (WSHPQFEK) and a C-terminal His₆-tag. In addition, both proteins contained the pre-pro-sequence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mating factor alpha to allow secretion. Following vector construction, transformation and zeocin amplification, the best Pichia producers were identified in a screening procedure using Western blot and a Luminex xMAP™ based high-throughput method. Recombinant NK1-fragment and MTF were purified from culture supernatants of the best producers by affinity chromatography (Ni–nitrilotriacetic acid columns). Using P. pastoris as a host for the synthesis of NK1-fragment a protein yield of 5.7 mg/l was achieved. In comparable expression experiments P. angusta yielded 1.6 mg/l of NK1-fragment. NK1-fragment apparently was not glycosylated in either system. For the production of MTF, P. pastoris was also the superior host yielding 1.2 mg/l glycosylated recombinant protein whereas P. angusta was clearly less efficient (<0.2 mg/l MTF). For both expression systems no correlation between the amount of recombinant protein and the copy number of the chromosomally integrated heterologous genes was found. In P. pastoris strains less degradation of the two model recombinant proteins was observed. Altogether, this paper provides a structured protocol for rapidly identifying productive Pichia strains for the synthesis of full-length recombinant proteins.     

Optimization of ethanol,citric acid,and α-amylase production from date wastes by strains of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharomyces cerevisiae</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus niger</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Candida guilliermondii</Emphasis>

The present study deals with submerged ethanol, citric acid, and α-amylase fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae SDB, Aspergillus niger ANSS-B5, and Candida guilliermondii CGL-A10, using date wastes as the basal fermentation medium. The physical and chemical parameters influencing the production of these metabolites were optimized. As for the ethanol production, the optimum yield obtained was 136.00 ± 0.66 g/l under optimum conditions of an incubation period of 72 h, inoculum content of 4% (w/v), sugars concentration of 180.0 g/l, and ammonium phosphate concentration of 1.0 g/l. Concerning citric acid production, the cumulative effect of temperature (30°C), sugars concentration of 150.0 g/l, methanol concentration of 3.0%, initial pH of 3.5, ammonium nitrate concentration of 2.5 g/l, and potassium phosphate concentration of 2.5 g/l during the fermentation process of date wastes syrup did increase the citric acid production to 98.42 ± 1.41 g/l. For the production of α-amylase, the obtained result shows that the presence of starch strongly induces the production of α-amylase with a maximum at 5.0 g/l. Among the various nitrogen sources tested, urea at 5.0 g/l gave the maximum biomass and α-amylase estimated at 5.76 ± 0.56 g/l and 2,304.19 ± 31.08 μmol/l/min, respectively after 72 h incubation at 30°C, with an initial pH of 6.0 and potassium phosphate concentration of 6.0 g/l.     

Effect of feeding Saccharomyces Cerevisiae on performance of dairy cows during summer heat stress

Effects of feeding a culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to lactating cows on their lactational performance during heat stress were determined. Multiparous Holstein cows (n = 723) calving during the summer months from two dairy farms were randomly assigned to a diet containing no yeast culture (control; n = 361) or 30 g/d of a S. cerevisiae yeast culture (YC; n = 362) fed from 20 to 140 d in milk (DIM). Cows were milked twice daily and the production of milk and milk components was measured every 2 weeks. Dry matter (DM) intakes from 6 pens were measured daily and pen temperature and humidity were evaluated hourly from June to November. Rectal temperature was measured in 88 cows (22/treatment/farm), once weekly, and blood was sampled from a subset of 120 cows at 58 and 100 DIM for measurements of plasma glucose, nonesterified fatty acids, 3-OH-butyrate, insulin, and urea N concentrations. Daily temperature, humidity and the temperature-humidity index in the study pens did not differ between treatments, and rectal temperature of cows in the control and YC treatments differed with days postpartum. Intake of DM was similar between diets, but cows fed YC produced 1.2 kg/d more milk, more milk true protein, solids-not-fat and lactose than that produced by control cows. However, energy-corrected milk yield, and concentrations of true protein, solids-not-fat and lactose did not differ between treatments. Feeding YC did not influence plasma metabolites, insulin, or body condition score of cows, but urea N concentrations were reduced. Feeding a yeast culture of S. cerevisiae improved yields of milk and milk components in heat-stressed multiparous Holstein cows.     

URA3基因影响青蒿酸酿酒酵母工程菌中试发酵产量

CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑技术已经被广泛应用于工程酿酒酵母的基因插入、基因替换和基因敲除,通过使用选择标记进行基因编辑具有简单高效的特点。前期利用CRISPR/Cas9系统敲除青蒿酸生产菌株酿酒酵母(Saccharomyces cerevisiae) 1211半乳糖代谢负调控基因GAL80,获得菌株S. cerevisiae 1211-2,在不添加半乳糖诱导的情况下,青蒿酸摇瓶发酵产量达到了740 mg/L。但在50 L中试发酵实验中,S. cerevisiae 1211-2很难利用对青蒿酸积累起到决定性作用的碳源-乙醇,青蒿酸的产量仅为亲本菌株S.cerevisiae 1211的20%–25%。我们推测因遗传操作所需的筛选标记URA3突变,影响了其生长及青蒿酸产量。随后我们使用重组质粒pML104-KanMx4-u连同90 bp供体DNA成功恢复了URA3基因,获得了工程菌株S. cerevisiae 1211-3。S. cerevisiae 1211-3能够在葡萄糖和乙醇分批补料的发酵罐中正常生长,其青蒿酸产量超过20g/L,与亲本菌株产量相当。研究不但获得了不加半乳糖诱导的青...     

Effect of C/N ratio and starch concentration on ethanol production from sago starch using recombinant yeast

Recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae YKU 131 (capable of expressing glucoamylase) was used to produce ethanol from sago starch. The optimum C/N ratio for ethanol production by the recombinant yeast was 7.9, where 4.7 and 10.1 g/l ethanol was produced from 20 and 40 g/l sago starch, respectively. At sago starch concentration higher than 40 g/l and C/N ratio higher than 10.4, glucoamylase production and rate of starch hydrolysis were reduced, which in turn, reduced ethanol production significantly. The theoretical yield of ethanol based on sago starch consumed in fermentation using 40 g/l was 72.6%. This yield was slightly lower than those obtained in fermentation using soluble starch such as potato and corn starch, which ranged from 80–90% as reported in the literature. However, S. cerevisiae YKU 131 could only utilize 62% of the total amount of starch added to a medium.     

Effect of ozone on respiration of adult Sitophilus oryzae (L.), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) and Rhyzopertha dominica (F.)

The effect of ozone on the respiration of three species of adult stored-product Coleoptera was tested in an air-tight flask. Sitophilus oryzae (L.), Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) and Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) adults were exposed to atmosphere containing 0.1, 0.2 or 0.4 μg/ml initial ozone at 23–25 °C and 50% r.h. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) production reflected the respiration rates of insects and was determined with a gas chromatograph (GC). The experiments showed that the effects of ozone on respiration had two distinct phases. Phase 1 involved a lower respiration rate of the adult stored-product Coleoptera under ozone atmosphere and reflected the need for insects to reduce ozone toxicity. After 1 h, CO₂ production of S. oryzae was 3.19, 2.63, 2.27 and 1.99 μl/mg for the ozone concentration of 0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 μg/ml, respectively. The results also showed that there were decreases in the rate of respiration in R. dominica and T. castaneum with an increase in ozone concentration. During phase 2, respiration of S. oryzae, R. dominica, and T. castaneum adults treated with ozone increased as the ozone degraded to oxygen. After 7 h, the effect of ozone on CO₂ production, relative to the control, changed from a decrease to an increase. The findings in relation to control strategies were discussed.     

High-level expression of recombinant phospholipase C from Bacillus cereus in Pichia pastoris and its characterization

The phospholipase c (plc) gene from Bacillus cereus was cloned into the pPICZC vector and integrated into the genome of Pichia pastoris. The phospholipase C (PLC) when expressed in P. pastoris was fused to the -factor secretion signal peptide of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and secreted into a culture medium. Recombinant P. pastoris X-33 had a clear PLC band at 28.5 kDa and produced an extracellular PLC with an activity of 678 U mg^–1 protein which was more than a recombinant P. pastoris GS115 (552 U mg^–1 protein) or KM71H (539 U mg^–1 protein). The PLCs were purified using a HiTrap affinity column with a specific activity of 1335 U mg^–1 protein by P. pastoris GS115, 1176 U mg^–1 protein by P. pastoris KM71H and 1522 U mg^–1 protein by P. pastoris X-33. The three recombinant PLCs had high PLC activity in the low pH range of 4-5 and higher thermal stability (e.g. stable at 75 °C) than the wild-type PLC from B. cereus. Some organic solvents, surfactants and metal ions, e.g. methanol, acetone, Co²⁺ and Mn²⁺ etc., also influenced the activity of the recombinant PLCs.     

Improvement of isoflavone aglycones production using β-glucosidase secretory produced in recombinant Aspergillus oryzae

β-Glucosidase (BGL1) from Aspergillus oryzae was efficiently produced in recombinant A. oryzae using sodM promoter-mediated expression system. The yield of BGL1 was 960 mg/l in liquid culture, which is 20-fold higher than the yield of BGL1 produced using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Recombinant BGL1 converted isoflavone glycosides into isoflavone aglycones more efficiently than β-glucosidase from almond. In addition, BGL1 produced isoflavone aglycones even in the presence of the insoluble form of isoflavone glycosides.     

Oxytocin influences the production of glycyrrhizin from cell cultures of Abrus precatorius Linn.

Oxytocin, a peptide animal hormone, was used as a growth regulator to test its effect on biomass accumulation and production of secondary plant constituent glycyrrhizin in the cell cultures of Abrus precatorius. Glycyrrhizin is an important phytoconstituent of liquorice which is widely used in the pharmaceutical and food industries. Cell suspension cultures of A. precatorius were developed from leaf explant of in vitro germinated plant in Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 30 g/l sucrose, 1 mg/l naphthalene acetic acid and 1 mg/l kinetin. The influence of oxytocin on biomass accumulation as well as on the production of glycyrrhizin was observed in the cell cultures of A. precatorius. Treatment of A. precatorius cell cultures with 100 μg/l oxytocin, improved glycyrrhizin production up to 34.27 mg/l on the dry cell weight basis third day after oxytocin treatment, which is over four times that of the control cultures, simultaneously nearly two fold increase in the biomass 2 days after the oxytocin treatment was recorded over the control cultures.