Initiation of rubber biosynthesis: In vitro comparisons of benzophenone-modified diphosphate analogues in three rubber-producing species

Enzymatically-active washed rubber particles produce rubber in vitro when provided with appropriate substrates. Here, a series of benzophenone-modified initiator analogues successfully bound to the membrane-localized rubber transferase at the particle surface, and initiated rubber biosynthesis in Ficus elastica, Hevea brasiliensis and Parthenium argentatum (shown in micrograph, scale bar = 1 μm).