Production of rubber-like polymers by microorganisms

Biopolymers with true rubber properties are exceptionally rare in prokaryotic microorganisms. Only some polyhydroxyalkanoic acids are thermoplastic elastomers within a narrow temperature range that can be extended by crosslinking. Other polyhydroxyalkanoic acids are rigid and need specific thermal treatment during annealing to yield elastomeric materials. The most important elastomer is natural rubber (cis-1,4-polyisoprene). The rubber tree Hevea brasiliensis is so far the only relevant commercial source of this polymer, although many other plants are also capable of its synthesis. Recent advances in the analysis of isoprenoid and polyisoprene biosynthesis pathways have encouraged attempts to establish production of natural rubber in bacteria. Establishment of functional cis-1,4-polyisoprene biosynthesis pathways in bacteria depends firstly on the biosynthesis of isoprene moieties via the mevalonate or methylerythritol phosphate pathway and secondly on the polymerisation of isoprene moieties by a prenyltransferase yielding high-molecular-weight polyisoprenoids. The genes that encode prenyltransferases are as yet unknown and so the establishment of such a pathway and formation of rubber in recombinant bacteria will be a difficult task.