Diurnal Fluctuation of Quinolizidine Alkaloid Accumulation in Legume Plants and Photomixotrophic Cell Suspension Cultures

Abstract

Fluctuations of quinolizidine alkaloid content in leaflets of Lupinus polyphyllus, L. hartwegii, Baptisia australis, and Sarothamnus scoparius were studied over a 36 h period. The alkaloid contents reached their maximum at noon or early afternoon, and their minimum during the night. The amplitudes of diurnal variations in alkaloid levels lay within a range of 60 to 470% of the early morning contents of alkaloids (= 100%) in leaves. In photomixotrophic cell suspension cultures of L. polyphyllus and S. scoparius cultured under day-night regime, a similar increase of the alkaloid levels was observed within 5 to 8 h after onset of illumination. A subsequent excretion of the alkaloids produced, which also followed a diurnal rhythm, was found. S. scoparius cells excreted lupanine, L. polyphyllus cells 13-cinnamoyloxylupanine. From the cell culture and plant experiments it can be assumed that the alkaloids which are formed during illumination are translocated to some degree afterwards. In cell suspension cultures the alkaloids are subjected to rapid and rhythmic turnover. Exogenous alkaloids, fed to the cultures, are taken up by the cells and disappear usually within the first 72 h. A possible mechanism for a light-mediated regulation of quinolizidine alkaloid biosynthesis which was found to be localized in leaf chloroplast, is discussed.