Identification of the Composition and Growth of In Vitro Natural Rubber using High Resolution Size Exclusion Chromatography

Recently, Puskas et al. have proposed that the molecular mechanism of natural rubber (NR) biosynthesis is through carbocationic polymerization. To acquire further insight into the mechanism, in vitro NR biosynthesis experiments were performed at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) with combinations of enzymatically active rubber particles from H. brasiliensis,(RRIM600), isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP), farnesyl diphosphate (FPP), and metal cofactor (Mg2+). In this study, high resolution Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) was used to decipher the distribution of polyisoprenoids and oligoisoprenoids of rubber particles to monitor the growth of in vitro natural rubber.