Oxidative reactions of the pentose pathway and the origin of reducing equivalents for the biosynthesis of rubber in Hevea brasiliensis latex

The presence of the oxidative reactions of the pentose phosphate pathway in hevea latex and their interaction with the biosynthesis of rubber are demo nstrated using radioisotopes. During the second oxidation-reduction reactio n of the pentose phosphate pathway the tritium in C-3 of glucose-6-phosphat e is transported as tritiated nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate a nd serves to reduce [3-C-14] 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A to meval onate. Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate is the inter-con nection between these two metabolic routes present in hevea latex, thus the hydrogens of glucose end up in rubber. (C) 2000 Society of Chemical Indust ry.