Advances in Genome Sequencing and Natural Rubber Biosynthesis in Rubber-Producing Plants

Abstract

Natural rubber (cis-1,4-polyisoprene, NR) is an important raw material utilized widely in the manufacturing of medical, agricultural, and industrial products. Rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) and several alternative rubber-producing plants (Taraxacum kok-saghyz, Lactuca sativa, and Parthenium argentatum) have the capability to produce high-quality NR. With the progress of genome sequencing, similar rubber biosynthesis pathways have been discovered among different rubber-producing plant species. NR is synthesized and stored in rubber particles, which are specialized organelles comprising a hydrophobic NR core surrounded by a lipid monolayer and membrane-bound proteins. The rubber transferase complex is considered to be the pivotal enzyme involved in catalyzing NR biosynthesis. However, the exact compositions of the RT complex in rubber-producing plants remain elusive and poorly understood. Here, we review the progress of genome sequencing, natural rubber biosynthesis, and the components of the RT complex in rubber-producing plants. We emphasize that identifying the detailed components of the RT complex holds great significance for exploring the mechanism of NR biosynthesis and accelerating molecular breeding in rubber-producing plants.