Differences in compounds released by embryogenic and non-embryogenic suspension cultures of Euphorbia pulcherrima

Media from embryogenic and non-embryogenic cell suspension cultures were analysed for protein content, electrophoretic protein patterns, glycoproteins and activity of peroxidases and β-glucosidases in order to characterize the physiological status of the cultures. On a dry mass basis the amount of extracellular proteins per cell was greater in embryogenic suspensions than in non-embryogenic suspensions. Non-embryogenic suspensions contained unidentified slimy compounds which were not present inembryogenic cultures. The extracellular Concanavalin A-specific glycoproteins gave different isoelectric focussing patterns and thus enabled embryogenic and non-embryogenic cultures to be differentiated. The extracellular peroxidase activity per cell dry mass was far greater in embryogenic than in non-embryogenic cultures. The isoenzymes differed in number and composition of the anionic bands. β-glucosidases were found in the same range of activity in both culture types, but the time course of enzyme activity during cultivation was significantly different. In the embryogenic culture the activity was correlated with dry mass increase, whereas in the non-embryogenic suspension the activity reached maximum during the linear growth phase. Polyphenoloxidase which was recently recognized as an intracellular marker for embryogenic stages was not released into culture media. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.