Terpenoid Biosynthesis: Genes Involved and Their Regulation

Abstract

Terpenoids constitute the largest class of natural products, with many playing crucial roles in the industrial sector as spices, flavors, scents, and in cosmetics and perfumery. Numerous terpenoids also possess biological activity and are utilized in medicine. Plants biosynthesize terpenoids in various subcellular compartments, including the cytosol, plastids, and mitochondria, depending on their physiological roles. Higher plants primarily synthesize sterols, sesquiterpenes, and ubiquinones through the traditional acetate-mevalonic acid pathway, which operates mainly in the cytosol and mitochondria. All terpenoids originate from the universal five-carbon precursors isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) and its allylic isomer dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP), produced via two distinct biosynthetic routes located in different subcellular compartments. This metabolic process is regulated by various factors, including cofactors and carbon supply. In recent years, significant research has been conducted to understand the regulation of this pathway.