Minireviews
The Non-mevalonate Pathway of Isoprenoid Precursor Biosynthesis*

https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.R700005200Get rights and content
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The recently discovered non-mevalonate biosynthetic route to isoprenoid precursors is an essential metabolic pathway in plants, apicomplexan parasites, and many species of bacteria. The pathway relies on eight enzymes exploiting different cofactors and metal ions. Structural and mechanistic data now exist for most components of the pathway though there remain some gaps in our knowledge. The individual enzymes represent new, validated targets for broad spectrum antimicrobial drug and herbicide development. Detailed knowledge of the pathway may also be exploited to genetically modify microorganisms and plants to produce compounds of agricultural and medical interest.

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This minireview will be reprinted in the 2007 Minireview Compendium, which will be available in January, 2008. This work was supported by The Wellcome Trust and the Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council, UK (Structural Proteomics of Rational Targets initiative).