Terpenoid Biosynthesis

Terpenoids are enzymatically synthesized from acetyl-CoA and pyruvate, two basic building blocks of many cellular molecules. Two complex bio-synthetic pathways convert these molecules into isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP). Via formation of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP), these two molecules are then used as the basic building blocks for all the different terpene backbones. GGPP is also the a basic building block of chlorophyll, therefore it is an essential molecule of every plant species. Terpene synthases are the primary enzymes responsible for catalyzing the formation of hemiterpenes (C₅), monoterpenes (C₁₀), sesquiterpenes (C₁₅), or diterpenes (C₂₀). Volatile terpens are usually direct products of the terpene synthase without additional oxidation, dehydrogenation, acylation or other reactions.

Figure 1: Terpenoid biosynthesis pathways