Caffeine formation by suspension cultures of Coffea dewevrei

Abstract

The low caffeine content in leaves of C. dewevrei (~ 0.5 mg/g) is due to a low biosynthesis associated with a fast degradation. On the other hand, high biosynthesis and low degradation confer a higher content (~ 8 mg/g) in leaves of C. arabica. In this work it was observed that cell cultures of C. dewevrei recovered the ability to synthesize caffeine almost in similar levels of C. arabica cultures. Tracer experiments with labelled carbon dioxide showed a significant accumulation of radioactivity in caffeine and metabolites, indicating an active biosynthesis. When the cultures were fed with labelled caffeine most of the radioactivity was recovered in caffeine, indicating that although active, degradation was not so efficient as in leaves, and therefore, contributing for the alkaloid accumulation in the cell cultures.