Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Synthesis of Programmable Main-chain Liquid-crystalline Elastomers Using a Two-stage Thiol-acrylate Reaction
Published on: January 19, 2016
Efficient synthesis of trans-polyisoprene compounds using two thermostable enzymes in an organic-aqueous dual-liquid
Shinsuke Fujiwara1, Aiko Yamanaka, Yosuke Yamada
1Department of Bioscience, Nanobiotechnology Research Center, School of Science and Technology, Kwansei Gakuin University, 2-1 Gakuen, Sanda 699-1337, Japan. fujiwara-s@kwansei.ac.jp
Abstract:
The trans-polyisoprene compounds are synthesized by trans-isoprenyl diphosphate synthase (IDS) with consecutive condensation of isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) to dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP). The in vitro condensation by IDS does not proceed efficiently by hydrophobic interaction between IDS and the hydrocarbon of longer products. In the present study, the enzymatic synthesis of trans-polyisoprenyl diphosphates was attempted in an organic-aqueous dual-liquid phase system with thermostable enzymes obtained from Thermococcus kodakaraensis. The conversion from DMAPP to a longer-chain product was achieved in a dual-liquid phase system, and more than 80% of the products were recovered in the organic phase. When the mutant IDS-Y81S, in which Tyr81 is replaced with Ser, was used in the dual-phase system, productivity was enhanced about four times and the ratio of the longer-chain products was increased. Co-incubation of IPP isomerase from T. kodakaraensis with IDS or IDS-Y81S enabled the direct synthesis of polyisoprenyl diphosphates from IPPs.
Related Concept Videos
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview
Ruthenium-based Grubbs catalyst is the most commonly used catalyst for olefin metathesis polymerization. Grubbs catalyst consists of a...
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Acyclic Diene Metathesis (ADMET)
Similar to cross-metathesis, ADMET also involves the formation of metallacyclobutane intermediate by [2+2] cycloaddition of one of the double bonds of a terminal diene with...
Preparation of Epoxides
Epoxides result from alkene oxidation, which can be achieved by a) air, b) peroxy acids, c) hypochlorous acids, and d) halohydrin cyclization.
Epoxidation with Peroxy Acids
Epoxidation of alkenes via oxidation with peroxy acids involves the conversion of a carbon–carbon double bond to an epoxide using the oxidizing agent meta-chloroperoxybenzoic acid, commonly known as MCPBA. Since the O–O bond of peroxy acids is very weak, the addition of electrophilic oxygen of peroxy acids to...
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP)
Ziegler–Natta Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview
Oxidation of Alkenes: Syn Dihydroxylation with Osmium Tetraoxide

