Plastic products derived from petroleum or chemical processes represent a problem for the planet: they are one of the major sources of pollution, essentially because they are not biodegradable. Therefore, the scientific community is constantly looking for strategies to produce environmentally friendly materials that can replace traditional plastic. The present work proposes the production that could partially replace synthetic polymers. To develop this idea, it was necessary start with genetic modification of the common bean seed storage protein (Phaseolus vulgaris) called phaseolin (PHSL). The protein was engineered by inserting a cysteine residue into the C-terminal tail of the polypeptide chain (PHSL*) to stimulate the formation of interchain disulfide bridges. PHSL* was used to transform the plastidial genome of tobacco plants (Nicotiana benthamiana) with biolistic transformation technology. Here, we indicate the validity of our strategy by demonstrating that modified phaseolin can form large molecular complexes ranging from 1.2 to 20 MDa in transplatomic tobacco leaves. Some plasticization tests were carried out, and the plastic material produced was analyzed to define some chemical-physical characteristics important in industrial or pharmaceutical processes. Our analysis suggests a possible application of this new biopolymer in different sectors, ranging from packaging for the food industry to producing material used in the biomedical sector as a carrier of protein-based drugs.
A biotechnological approach for the production of new protein bioplastics
Creanza P.;Maricchiolo E.;Vanzolini T.;Bellucci M.;Menotta M.;Di Mambro T.;Aluigi A.;
2024
Abstract
Plastic products derived from petroleum or chemical processes represent a problem for the planet: they are one of the major sources of pollution, essentially because they are not biodegradable. Therefore, the scientific community is constantly looking for strategies to produce environmentally friendly materials that can replace traditional plastic. The present work proposes the production that could partially replace synthetic polymers. To develop this idea, it was necessary start with genetic modification of the common bean seed storage protein (Phaseolus vulgaris) called phaseolin (PHSL). The protein was engineered by inserting a cysteine residue into the C-terminal tail of the polypeptide chain (PHSL*) to stimulate the formation of interchain disulfide bridges. PHSL* was used to transform the plastidial genome of tobacco plants (Nicotiana benthamiana) with biolistic transformation technology. Here, we indicate the validity of our strategy by demonstrating that modified phaseolin can form large molecular complexes ranging from 1.2 to 20 MDa in transplatomic tobacco leaves. Some plasticization tests were carried out, and the plastic material produced was analyzed to define some chemical-physical characteristics important in industrial or pharmaceutical processes. Our analysis suggests a possible application of this new biopolymer in different sectors, ranging from packaging for the food industry to producing material used in the biomedical sector as a carrier of protein-based drugs.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
