Degang Zhao^{1, 2} , Shangmei Long¹ , Li Song¹ , Ying Zhu² , Ruoruo Wang² , Dan Zhao¹

1 National-local Joint Engineering Research Center of Karst Region Plant ResourcesUtilization & Breeding (Guizhou), College of Life Sciences/Institute of AgroBioengineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China
2 Plant Conservation & Breeding Technology Center, Guizhou Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biotechnology/Biotechnology Institute of Guizhou Province, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang, 550006, China
Author    Correspondence author
Bioscience Methods, 2024, Vol. 15, No. 6   
Received: 13 Sep., 2024    Accepted: 22 Oct., 2024    Published: 15 Nov., 2024

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

This study conducts a comparative analysis of the rubber biosynthesis pathways in two significant rubber-producing species, Eucommia ulmoides and Hevea brasiliensis. By examining the genetic and biochemical mechanisms underlying rubber production in these species, the study aims to uncover the evolutionary adaptations and potential biotechnological applications of their distinct biosynthetic pathways. The study reveals that Eucommia ulmoides primarily utilizes the methylerythritol-phosphate (MEP) pathway for isoprenyl diphosphate synthesis, which is a precursor for trans-polyisoprene rubber. In contrast, Hevea brasiliensis predominantly employs the mevalonate (MVA) pathway for cis-polyisoprene rubber production. Additionally, the farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPS) gene families in both species show significant differences in expression patterns and gene expansions, which are crucial for their respective rubber biosynthesis processes. The study also identifies long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs that play regulatory roles in rubber biosynthesis, providing deeper insights into the molecular regulation of this process. The findings highlight the evolutionary divergence in rubber biosynthesis pathways between Eucommia ulmoides and Hevea brasiliensis. Understanding these differences not only enriches our knowledge of plant secondary metabolism but also opens up new avenues for genetic engineering to enhance rubber production in these and other species. The study underscores the potential for biotechnological advancements in the rubber industry by leveraging the unique biosynthetic pathways of these plants.

Rubber biosynthesis; Eucommia ulmoides; Hevea brasiliensis; MEP pathway; MVA pathway; Farnesyl diphosphate synthase; Long non-coding RNAs; microRNAs; Genetic engineering