UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase activity is correlated to saponin production in Gypsophila paniculata root in vitro cultures

UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase (UGT, EC 2.4.1.17) activity was detected in excised root cultures of Gypsophila paniculata. The UGT activity (up to 0.8 nkat mg^–1 protein) correlated to the total saponin content (2 mg g^–1 dw) during the exponential phase of the batch culture. This gives rise to the hypothesis of a direct relationship in the biosynthetic pathway regulation between the enzyme activity and the saponin biosynthesis.