Regulation of Natural Rubber Biosynthesis by Proteins Associated with Rubber Particles
- Authors: Amerik A.Y.1, Martirosyan Y.T.1,2, Gachok I.V.1,3
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Affiliations:
- Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics
- All-Russia Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology
- Department of Chemistry
- Issue: Vol 44, No 2 (2018)
- Pages: 140-149
- Section: Review Article
- URL: https://journals.rcsi.science/1068-1620/article/view/228848
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S106816201801003X
- ID: 228848
Cite item
Abstract
Natural rubber, cis-1,4-polyisoprene, is an essential raw material used in thousands of products, many of which are absolutely necessary for medical purposes. Natural rubber is obtained from latex, an aqueous emulsion present in the laticiferous vessels of the natural rubber-producing plants. Hevea brasiliensis (the Brazilian rubber tree) currently is the only commercially important source of natural rubber. H. brasiliensis crops have very little genetic variability, leaving rubber plantations at risk of serious pathogenic attacks. In addition, repeated exposure to residual proteins in latex products derived from H. brasiliensis have led to serious and widespread allergic (type I) hypersensitivity. Therefore, identification of alternative sources of natural rubber is a very important biotechnological task. Potentially, Russian dandelion (Taraxacum kok-saghyz) may be such an alternative because significant amounts of natural rubber are produced in its root system. However, H. brasiliensis is a more efficient producer of natural rubber than T. kok-saghyz. Thus, improvement of rubber biosynthesis in plants is a first-priority problem of modern biotechnology. In this review, we describe proteins that may increase the concentration of natural rubber in laticiferous vessels of T. kok-saghyz and its close relative Taraxacum brevicorniculatum, when overexpressed in the plants. These proteins, cis-prenyltransferases, rubber transferase activator, and small rubber particle proteins, are directly involved in synthesis of the polyisoprene chain. We also analyze the effects of their expression levels on the production of natural rubber in vivo.
About the authors
A. Yu. Amerik
Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics
Author for correspondence.
Email: amerik.alexander@gmail.com
Russian Federation, Moscow, 119991
Yu. Tc. Martirosyan
Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics; All-Russia Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology
Email: amerik.alexander@gmail.com
Russian Federation, Moscow, 119991; Moscow, 127550
I. V. Gachok
Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics; Department of Chemistry
Email: amerik.alexander@gmail.com
Russian Federation, Moscow, 119991; Moscow, 119234