title: Synthesis of novel biomaterials in plants.
abstract: Metabolic engineering of plants allows the possibility of using crops for the synthesis of novel polymers having useful material properties. Strong and flexible protein-based polymers, which are based on the structure of silk and elastin have been synthesized in transgenic plants. A wide range of polyhydroxyalkanoates having properties ranging from stiff plastics to soft elastomers and glues have been synthesized in various compartments of plants, such as the cytoplasm, plastid and peroxisome. These plant biomaterials could replace, in part, the synthetic plastics, fibers and elastomers produced from petroleum, thus offering the advantage of renewability, sustainability and biodegradability.
authors.affiliation: Institut d'Ecologie, Laboratoire de Biotechnologie Végétale, Bâtiment de Biologie, Université de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moire
authors.forename: Enea
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rezzonico
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Poirier
mesh_terms: D001704:Biopolymers / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D047011:Silk
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers; D019476:Insect Proteins; D011091:Polyesters; D047011:Silk