Geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate is an intermediate in the biosynthesis of
diterpenes and di
terpenoids. It is also the precursor to
carotenoid
Carotenoids (), also called tetraterpenoids, are yellow, orange, and red organic pigments that are produced by plants and algae, as well as several bacteria, and fungi. Carotenoids give the characteristic color to pumpkins, carrots, parsnips, cor ...
s,
gibberellins,
tocopherols, and
chlorophyll
Chlorophyll (also chlorophyl) is any of several related green pigments found in cyanobacteria and in the chloroplasts of algae and plants. Its name is derived from the Greek words , ("pale green") and , ("leaf"). Chlorophyll allow plants to ...
s.
It is also a precursor to
geranylgeranylated proteins, which is its primary use in human cells.
It is formed from
farnesyl pyrophosphate by the addition of an
isoprene
Isoprene, or 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene, is a common volatile organic compound with the formula CH2=C(CH3)−CH=CH2. In its pure form it is a colorless volatile liquid. Isoprene is an unsaturated hydrocarbon. It is produced by many plants and animals ...
unit from
isopentenyl pyrophosphate.
In ''
Drosophila
''Drosophila'' () is a genus of flies, belonging to the family Drosophilidae, whose members are often called "small fruit flies" or (less frequently) pomace flies, vinegar flies, or wine flies, a reference to the characteristic of many s ...
'', geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate is synthesised by HMG-CoA encoded by the Columbus gene. Geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate is utilised as a chemoattractant for migrating
germ cells that have traversed the
midgut epithelia. The attractant signal is produced at the
gonadal precursors, directing the germ cells to these sites, where they will differentiate into eggs and
spermatozoa
A spermatozoon (; also spelled spermatozoön; ; ) is a motile sperm cell (biology), cell, or moving form of the ploidy, haploid cell (biology), cell that is the male gamete. A spermatozoon Fertilization, joins an ovum to form a zygote. (A zygote ...
(sperm).
Related compounds
*
Farnesyl pyrophosphate
*
Geranylgeraniol
*
Geranyl pyrophosphate
References
Organophosphates
Diterpenes
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