9702582 Linden The Principal Investigators (PIs) propose to fill the need for a more rational approach to optimization of production conditions for new compounds derived from plant cell cultures. They plan to exploit evolving knowledge of signal- transduction pathways in plants with experiments using metabolic transport inhibitors, precursors, and signaling compounds (e.g. elicitors and plant hormones). This approach is to lead to working models of TAXOL synthesis, release, and degradation in Taxus sp. cell cultures. The PIs believe the proposed approach should be generalizable to compounds other than TAXOL that are derived from plant cell cultures, and provide biochemical engineers a tool to achieve rapid production of novel therapeutic compounds from plant cells. ***
