Nitric oxide, cell death and increased taxol recovery

Abstract

Background With NASA support this research aimed at evaluating early opportunities in Microgravity Sciences to commercialize space and to develop the biotechnology facility for the International Space Station [1]. The main task was to evaluate the production of taxol (generic name: paclitaxel) with cell suspensions in bioreactors designed for the Space Shuttle. Unexpectedly, this work led to the early demonstration of L-arginine-dependent nitric oxide (NO) bursts in mechanically and gravitationally stressed plant cells, to NO-induced programmed cell death (apoptosis) (reviewed in [2]), and to a model describing how these factors contribute to increased taxol and taxane recovery from conifers.