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Periploca sepium Bunge as a model plant for rubber biosynthesis study
Takeshi Bamba1, Tomoki Sando, Asuka Miyabashira
1Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
Zeitschrift Fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of Biosciences
|October 5, 2007
Summary
Chinese silk vine (Periploca sepium) produces rubber latex. Analysis confirmed cis-polyisoprene in the exudate, suggesting potential as a novel rubber source.
Area of Science:
- Botany
- Polymer Science
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Periploca sepium Bunge (Chinese silk vine) is a woody vine from Northwest China.
- It exhibits a similar body plan to the Para-rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) in producing a milky exudate containing rubber latex.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess Periploca sepium as a potential rubber-producing plant.
- To elucidate the structure and molecular weight distribution of the rubber latex.
Main Methods:
- 1H NMR analysis of purified rubber fraction.
- Size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) for molecular weight distribution analysis.
- Confirmation of polyisoprene in tissue-cultured plantlets.
Main Results:
- 1H NMR confirmed the presence of cis-polyisoprene in the milky exudate.
- SEC analysis yielded number-average molecular weight (Mn) of 1.3 x 10(5) and weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of 4.1 x 10(5) with a polydispersity (Mw/Mn) of 3.1.
- Polyisoprene (Mn = 4.0 x 10(4), Mw = 7.6 x 10(4), Mw/Mn = 2.5) was also found in tissue-cultured plantlets.
Conclusions:
- Periploca sepium produces cis-polyisoprene, validating its potential as a rubber source.
- The molecular characteristics of the rubber are comparable to those found in established rubber-producing plants.
- Further research into Periploca sepium could lead to new avenues for natural rubber production.
