farnesyl diphosphate metabolic process

Definition

Target type: biologicalprocess

The chemical reactions and pathways involving farnesyl diphosphate, an intermediate in carotenoid, sesquiterpene, squalene and sterol biosynthesis, as well as a substrate in protein farnesylation. [GOC:go_curators]

Farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) metabolic process is a crucial step in the biosynthesis of various essential molecules, including sterols, isoprenoids, and ubiquinone. This process involves a series of enzymatic reactions that ultimately lead to the formation of FPP, a 15-carbon isoprenoid precursor.

The pathway begins with the condensation of acetyl-CoA and acetoacetyl-CoA to form HMG-CoA, catalyzed by HMG-CoA synthase. HMG-CoA is then reduced to mevalonate by HMG-CoA reductase, a key regulatory enzyme in the pathway. Mevalonate is then phosphorylated and decarboxylated to isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP), both five-carbon isoprenoid precursors.

IPP and DMAPP undergo a series of head-to-tail condensations, catalyzed by prenyltransferases, to form longer-chain isoprenoids. The first condensation reaction between IPP and DMAPP yields geranyl diphosphate (GPP), a 10-carbon isoprenoid. Further condensation with IPP produces FPP, a 15-carbon isoprenoid.

FPP is a versatile precursor molecule that serves as a building block for a wide range of essential molecules. For example, FPP is used in the synthesis of cholesterol, a key component of cell membranes and a precursor to steroid hormones. FPP is also a precursor to ubiquinone, an electron carrier in the mitochondrial electron transport chain. Additionally, FPP is involved in the synthesis of various other isoprenoids, including dolichol, a lipid carrier involved in protein glycosylation, and heme A, a component of cytochrome c oxidase.

The farnesyl diphosphate metabolic process is tightly regulated to ensure that the appropriate levels of FPP are produced to meet cellular demands. This regulation occurs at multiple levels, including the expression of genes encoding enzymes involved in the pathway, the activity of specific enzymes, and the availability of substrate molecules.

Disruptions in the farnesyl diphosphate metabolic process can lead to a variety of human diseases. For example, mutations in genes encoding enzymes involved in the pathway can cause disorders such as statin-induced myopathy, a muscle disorder, and hypercholesterolemia, a condition characterized by high levels of cholesterol in the blood. Furthermore, the farnesyl diphosphate metabolic process is a target for drug development, with statins, drugs that inhibit HMG-CoA reductase, being widely used to lower cholesterol levels.'
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Proteins (1)

Compounds (6)