Plant cell cultures have emerged as a promising tool for producing active molecules due to their numerous advantages over traditional agricultural methods. Flavonols, and anthocyanin pigments in particular, together with other phenolic compounds such as chlorogenic acid, are known for their beneficial health properties, mainly due to their antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities. The synthesis of these molecules is finely regulated in plant cells and controlled at the transcriptional level by specific MYB and bHLH transcription factors that coordinate the transcription of structural biosynthetic genes. The co-expression of peach PpMYB10.1 and PpbHLH3 in tobacco was used to develop tobacco cell lines showing high expression of both the peach transgenes and the native flavonol structural genes. These cell lines were further selected for fast growth. High production levels of chlorogenic acid, anthocyanins (mainly cyanidin 3-rutinoside), and other phenolics were also achieved in pre-industrial scale-up trials. A single-column-based purification protocol was developed to produce a lyophile called ANT-CA, which was stable over time, showed beneficial effects on cell viability, and had antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and wound-healing activities. This lyophile could be a valuable ingredient for food or cosmetic applications.
Keywords: Nicotiana tabacum; Prunus persica; synthetic biology.