Mevalonate-independent methylerythritol phosphate pathway for isoprenoid biosynthesis. Elucidation and distribution
M. Rohmer
Université Louis Pasteur/CNRS/Institut Universitaire
de France, Institut Le Bel, 4 rue Blaise Pascal, 67070 Strasbourg Cedex,
France
Abstract: A long-overlooked metabolic pathway for
isoprenoid biosynthesis, the mevalonate-independent methylerythritol
phosphate (MEP) pathway, is present in many bacteria and in the chloroplasts
of all phototrophic organisms. It represents an alternative to the well
known mevalonate pathway, which is present in animals, fungi, plant
cytoplasm, archaebacteria, and some eubacteria. This contribution summarizes
key steps of its elucidation and the state-of-the-art knowledge of this
biosynthetic pathway, which represents a novel target for antibacterial
and antiparasitic drugs.
*Pure Appl.Chem. 75,
141�419 (2003). An issue of reviews and research papers based on
lectures presented at the 23rd IUPAC International Symposium on the
Chemistry of Natural Products, Florence, Italy, 28 July � 2 August 2002.
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