Abstract: During the process of suspension culture; the change of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase(G6PDH) activity in Taxus cells without treatment was fundamentally similar to that of the biomass. However, G6PDH activity increased in chitosan-treated cells while biomass decreased. 100 mg·L^-1 chitosan and 500mg·L^-1 chitosan both enhanced G6PDH activity, and the improved degree of the latter was greater than the former. The addition of ethylene gly colbis-aminaethy ether-tetracetic acid(EGTA) declined G6PDH activity induced by chitosan, indicating that Ca²⁺ played an imperative role in chitosan-induced G6PDH. Glutathione(GSH) treatment inhibited by feedback the chitosan-induced G6PDH. After analyzing the relationship between various G6PDH activities and Taxol production, we concluded that regulation of phosphate pentose pathway by the appropriate methods could be beneficial to Taxol production in Taxus cells.

Key words: Taxus chinensis cells, phosphate pentose pathway, cell grow th, taxol, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase