Isoprenoid

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Isoprenoid

Isoprenoids, also known as terpenoids, are a large and diverse class of naturally occurring organic chemicals similar to terpenes, derived from five-carbon isoprene units assembled and modified in thousands of ways.

Pronunciation

Isoprenoid: /ˌaɪsəˈpriːnɔɪd/

Etymology

The term "isoprenoid" is derived from "isoprene", a 5-carbon building block of these compounds, and the suffix "-oid", meaning "resembling" or "like". The term "terpenoid" is derived from "terpene", the base structure of these compounds, and the suffix "-oid".

Related Terms

  • Isoprene: The basic building block of isoprenoids.
  • Terpene: A large and varied class of hydrocarbons, produced primarily by a wide variety of plants, particularly conifers, and by some insects.
  • Carotenoid: A type of isoprenoid, which includes the pigment carotene.
  • Steroid: A type of isoprenoid, which includes cholesterol and other hormones.
  • Polyisoprene: A type of polymer of isoprene, which includes natural rubber.

Isoprenoid Structure

Isoprenoids are made up of isoprene (C5H8) units. The basic molecular formula of isoprenoids is (C5H8)n, where n is the number of isoprene units. This structure can be linear, cyclic, or both, leading to a vast number of possible structures.

Isoprenoid Function

Isoprenoids play widely varying roles in the physiological processes of plants and animals. They are involved in a wide range of biological functions, including cell membrane stabilization, hormone regulation, and as precursors to molecules such as vitamin A.

Isoprenoid Synthesis

Isoprenoids are synthesized in both plants and animals through the mevalonate pathway or the non-mevalonate pathway. The mevalonate pathway occurs in the cytoplasm and uses acetyl-CoA as the starting material. The non-mevalonate pathway, also known as the MEP/DOXP pathway, occurs in plastids and uses pyruvate and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate as starting materials.

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