Formation of acetyltropine in Datura callus cultures

The production of tropoylesters in suspension cultures of Datura innoxia stem callus was significantly stimulated by dl-tropic acid, phenylpyruvate or tropine, but was little affected by l-phenylalanine or l-ornithine. Analyses have shown that acetyltropine is synthesized in large quantities by cultured cells when tropine has been supplied to various cultures of D. innoxia and D. tatula. Acetyltropine has been isolated from either the culture medium or cells supplied with tropine. These results indicate that tropine absorbed by the cultured cells of Datura is esterified predominantly by acetic acid to form acetyltropine, instead of other tropane alkaloids.