The Biosynthesis of Natural Rubber (original) (raw)
ADS
;
Abstract
The biosynthesis of natural rubber, Z-polyisoprene, is reviewed in the light of the recent elucidation of its detailed chemical structure. Natural rubber is homologous with a group of the polyprenols. The identity of the putative rubber transferase isolated from Hevea latex serum and guayule tissue as well as the published assay for rubber transferase are questioned. A rationale is proposed for the initiation of rubber particles. Factors influencing rubber formation in plants are addressed and a suggestion is made that the genes for rubber transferase are expressed not as a direct result of environmental factors but as a result of the production of photosynthate in excess of normal metabolic requirements; natural rubber probably represents a metabolic «overspill».
Publication:
Journal of Plant Physiology
Pub Date:
January 1990
DOI:
Bibcode:
Keywords:
- Rubber biosynthesis;
- Z-polyisoprene;
- polyprenols;
- rubber transferase;
- rubber particles;
- photosynthate