The selection and stability analysis of stable and high Taxol-producing cell lines from Taxus cuspidata

In this study to screen for stable, high Taxol-producing cell lines (CL5, CL12, and CL21) of Taxus cuspidata, stem tissues were used to induce calli, which were then subcultured nine times to establish suspension cell cultures. From 97 cell lines obtained from conditioned cultures, 10 cell lines with high Taxol content were selected. Stability analyses on solid and liquid B5 media were then used to obtain lines that stably produced high levels of Taxol. Fresh biomass and Taxol production of the ninth generation became stable. Taxol content of selected CL5, CL12, and CL21 samples was 0.0448, 0.0477, and 0.0428% of dry mass (DW), respectively. Proliferation of CL5, CL12 and CL21 was 346.3, 382.5, and 409.2%, respectively. From work over about 2 years, the three cell lines appear suitable for mass production of Taxol, promoting the industrialisation and commercial-scale production of Taxol using cell culture.