Biomaterial Database

Prospects for biopolymer production in plants. 2007

Jan B van Beilen, and Yves Poirier

Département de Biologie Moléculaire Végétale, Université de Lausanne, Bâtiment Biophore, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.

It is likely that during this century polymers based on renewable materials will gradually replace industrial polymers based on petrochemicals. This chapter gives an overview of the current status of research on plant biopolymers that are used as a material in non-food applications. We cover technical and scientific bottlenecks in the production of novel or improved materials, and the potential of using transgenic or alternative crops in overcoming these bottlenecks. Four classes of biopolymers will be discussed: starch, proteins, natural rubber, and poly-beta-hydroxyalkanoates. Renewable polymers produced by chemical polymerization of monomers derived from sugars, vegetable oil, or proteins, are not considered here.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010940	Plant Proteins	Proteins found in plants (flowers, herbs, shrubs, trees, etc.). The concept does not include proteins found in vegetables for which PLANT PROTEINS, DIETARY is available.	Plant Protein,Protein, Plant,Proteins, Plant
D010944	Plants	Multicellular, eukaryotic life forms of kingdom Plantae. Plants acquired chloroplasts by direct endosymbiosis of CYANOBACTERIA. They are characterized by a mainly photosynthetic mode of nutrition; essentially unlimited growth at localized regions of cell divisions (MERISTEMS); cellulose within cells providing rigidity; the absence of organs of locomotion; absence of nervous and sensory systems; and an alternation of haploid and diploid generations. It is a non-taxonomical term most often referring to LAND PLANTS. In broad sense it includes RHODOPHYTA and GLAUCOPHYTA along with VIRIDIPLANTAE.	Plant
D011108	Polymers	Compounds formed by the joining of smaller, usually repeating, units linked by covalent bonds. These compounds often form large macromolecules (e.g., BIOPOLYMERS; PLASTICS).	Polymer
D005544	Forecasting	The prediction or projection of the nature of future problems or existing conditions based upon the extrapolation or interpretation of existing scientific data or by the application of scientific methodology.	Futurology,Projections and Predictions,Future,Predictions and Projections
D006885	Hydroxybutyrates	Salts and esters of hydroxybutyric acid.	Hydroxybutyric Acid Derivatives,Hydroxybutyric Acids,Acid Derivatives, Hydroxybutyric
D001704	Biopolymers	Polymers synthesized by living organisms. They play a role in the formation of macromolecular structures and are synthesized via the covalent linkage of biological molecules, especially AMINO ACIDS; NUCLEOTIDES; and CARBOHYDRATES.	Bioplastics,Bioplastic,Biopolymer
D012408	Rubber	A high-molecular-weight polymeric elastomer derived from the milk juice (LATEX) of HEVEA brasiliensis and other trees and plants. It is a substance that can be stretched at room temperature to at least twice its original length and after releasing the stress, retract rapidly, and recover its original dimensions fully.	Latex Rubber,Elastica,India Rubber,Natural Rubber,Plant Rubber,Vulcanite,Natural Rubbers,Plant Rubbers,Rubber, Natural,Rubber, Plant,Rubbers, Natural,Rubbers, Plant
D013213	Starch	Any of a group of polysaccharides of the general formula (C6-H10-O5)n, composed of a long-chain polymer of glucose in the form of amylose and amylopectin. It is the chief storage form of energy reserve (carbohydrates) in plants.	Amylomaize Starch,Amylum,Cornstarch,Keoflo,Starch, Amylomaize
D030821	Plants, Genetically Modified	PLANTS, or their progeny, whose GENOME has been altered by GENETIC ENGINEERING.	Genetically Modified Plants,Plants, Transgenic,Transgenic Plants,GMO Plants,Genetically Engineered Plants,Engineered Plant, Genetically,Engineered Plants, Genetically,GMO Plant,Genetically Engineered Plant,Genetically Modified Plant,Modified Plant, Genetically,Modified Plants, Genetically,Plant, GMO,Plant, Genetically Engineered,Plant, Genetically Modified,Plant, Transgenic,Plants, GMO,Plants, Genetically Engineered,Transgenic Plant