Plant-based material, protein and biodegradable plastic

Curr Opin Plant Biol. 2005 Apr;8(2):188-96. doi: 10.1016/j.pbi.2005.01.010.

Abstract

Fibrous proteins from spiders, proteins with synthetic multiple repeats and mammalian structural proteins such as collagen have been produced in transgenic plants. Recent advances in the production of biodegradable plastic in plants also show the potential of molecular farming for research into and production of materials. Selection of a growing variety of such products, optimization of expression, and the development of effective purification strategies will further promote this growing field of biotechnology.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Collagen / chemistry
  • Collagen / metabolism
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / pharmacokinetics
  • Insecta
  • Mammals
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism*
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • Plastics / pharmacokinetics*
  • Silk / genetics
  • Silk / pharmacokinetics*
  • Spiders

Substances

  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins
  • Plant Proteins
  • Plastics
  • Silk
  • Collagen