Dataset Information

The characterization of ficaprenol-10, -11 and 12 from the leaves of Ficus elastica (decorative rubber plant).

ABSTRACT: Evidence from mass, nuclear-magnetic-resonance and infrared spectrometry and from gas-liquid and thin-layer chromatography is presented in favour of the presence of cis-trans-decaprenol, -undecaprenol and -dodecaprenol in the mixture of polyprenols (2.6mg./g.) isolated from leaf tissue of Ficus elastica. The trivial names ficaprenol-10, -11 and -12 are proposed. Nuclear-magnetic-resonance studies showed that each of these prenols contains three trans internal isoprene residues and a cis ;OH-terminal' isoprene residue. Ficaprenol-11 is the major component of the mixture. Chromatographic evidence suggests the presence also of small amounts of ficaprenol-9 and -13. The precise position of the three trans internal isoprene residues was not determined but it is suggested that these are adjacent to the omega-terminal isoprene residue and that the ficaprenols are formed from all-trans-geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate. It is also suggested that ficaprenol-10, -11, -12 and -13 are probably the same compounds as castaprenol-10, -11, -12 and -13.

SUBMITTER: Stone KJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1270243 | biostudies-other | 1967 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:BACKGROUND: Natural rubber is a biopolymer with exceptional qualities that cannot be completely replaced using synthetic alternatives. Although several key enzymes in the rubber biosynthetic pathway have been isolated, mainly from plants such as Hevea brasiliensis, Ficus spec. and the desert shrub Parthenium argentatum, there have been no in planta functional studies, e.g. by RNA interference, due to the absence of efficient and reproducible protocols for genetic engineering. In contrast, the Russian dandelion Taraxacum koksaghyz, which has long been considered as a potential alternative source of low-cost natural rubber, has a rapid life cycle and can be genetically transformed using a simple and reliable procedure. However, there is very little molecular data available for either the rubber polymer itself or its biosynthesis in T. koksaghyz. RESULTS: We established a method for the purification of rubber particles--the active sites of rubber biosynthesis--from T. koksaghyz latex. Photon correlation spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy revealed an average particle size of 320 nm, and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy confirmed that isolated rubber particles contain poly(cis-1,4-isoprene) with a purity > 95%. Size exclusion chromatography indicated that the weight average molecular mass (Mw) of T. koksaghyz natural rubber is 4,000-5,000 kDa. Rubber particles showed rubber transferase activity of 0.2 pmol min(-1) mg(-1). Ex vivo rubber biosynthesis experiments resulted in a skewed unimodal distribution of [1-14C]isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) incorporation at a M of 2,500 kDa. Characterization of recently isolated cis-prenyltransferases (CPTs) from T. koksaghyz revealed that these enzymes are associated with rubber particles and are able to produce long-chain polyprenols in yeast. CONCLUSIONS: T. koksaghyz rubber particles are similar to those described for H. brasiliensis. They contain very pure, high molecular mass poly(cis-1,4-isoprene) and the chain elongation process can be studied ex vivo. Because of their localization on rubber particles and their activity in yeast, we propose that the recently described T. koksaghyz CPTs are the major rubber chain elongating enzymes in this species. T. koksaghyz is amenable to genetic analysis and modification, and therefore could be used as a model species for the investigation and comparison of rubber biosynthesis.

Dataset Information

The characterization of ficaprenol-10, -11 and 12 from the leaves of Ficus elastica (decorative rubber plant).

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure