Farnesyl pyrophosphate
Farnesyl pyrophosphate, also known as farnesyl diphosphate, is an intermediate in both the mevalonate and non-mevalonate pathways used by organisms in the biosynthesis of terpenes, terpenoids, and sterols.
It is used in the synthesis of CoQ, as well as being the immediate precursor of squalene, dehydrodolichol diphosphate, and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate.Biosynthesis
catalyzes sequential condensation reactions of dimethylallyl pyrophosphate with 2 units of 3-isopentenyl pyrophosphate to form farnesyl pyrophosphate, as is shown in the following two steps:
Pharmacology
The above reactions are inhibited by bisphosphonates.
Statin-induced rhabdomyolysis is due to the depletion of farnesyl-PPi, which leads to a depletion of CoQ in the electron transport chain of mitochondria, an organelle that is found in great numbers in myocytes.- Farnesene
- Farnesol
- Geranyl pyrophosphate
- Geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate
