Rubber transferase in guayule plants. [Parthenium argentatum]
Rubber transferase catalyzes the transfer of cis-1,4-polyprenyl-PP to isopentenyl-PP (IPP) with the elimination of PP/sub i/. Rubber transferase activity in guayule (Parthenium argentatum Gray) stems was localized in the lipid fraction of the homogenate following centrifugation in buffer and 0.4M Mannitol. Washed rubber particles were obtained by the chromatography of the lipid fraction on Ultrogel columns with an exclusion limit of 750,000 daltons by the procedure of B.G. Audley (private communication). The rubber particles catalyzed the incorporation of /sup 14/C-IPP into cis-polyisoprene. The radioactive cis-polyisoprene was identified by ozonolysis and chromatography of the resulting /sup 14/C-levulinic acid. The synthesis of cis-polyisoprene in the rubber particles required Mg/sup 2 +/ and IPP and was stimulated 2-fold with the addition of DMAPP. Rubber synthesis in guayule plants growing in the Permian Basin of West Texas does not occur during summer months but is induced by the cold night temperatures of the fall and winter. From August to December individual plants (which were transplanted in May) accumulated from 66mg to 11,800mg or rubber. During this period there was a 4-fold increase in rubber transferase activity in stem homogenates induced by the low temperatures.
- Research Organization:
- Texas A and M Univ., College Station
- OSTI ID:
- 5021752
- Journal Information:
- Plant Physiol., Suppl.; (United States), Vol. 80:4; Conference: Annual meeting of the American Society of Plant Physiologists, Baton Rouge, LA, USA, 8-12 Jun 1986
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Molecular Studies of the Protein Complexes Involving Cis-Prenyltransferase in Guayule (Parthenium argentatum), an Alternative Rubber-Producing Plant
The enzymatic synthesis of rubber polymer
Related Subjects
GUAYULE
TRANSFERASES
NATURAL RUBBER
BIOSYNTHESIS
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
ENZYME ACTIVITY
LABELLING
ELASTOMERS
ENZYMES
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PLANTS
POLYMERS
RUBBER TREES
RUBBERS
SYNTHESIS
TREES
550201* - Biochemistry- Tracer Techniques