Abstract A cell suspension of Nicotiana plumbaginifolia which does not accumulate tobacco alkaloids was found to keep the ability to demethylate nicotine into nornicotine. The highest bioconversion yield was 53.2%. The influence of some environmental factors upon the reaction has been studied. In particular, it appears that light enhances the catalytic activity of the cells which leads to the hypothesis that this metabolic step of tobacco alkaloids is ...
