Biosynthesis of isoprenoid compounds

Spurgeon SL, Porter JW (1981) In biosynthesis of isoprenoid compounds. In Porter JW, Spurgeon SL (eds) John Wiley and Sons, New York, p 1... 

Elimination usually involves loss of a proton together with a nucleophilic group such as -OH, -NH3+, phosphate, or pyrophosphate. However, as in Eq. 13-18, step c, electrophilic groups such as -COO-can replace the proton. Another example is the conversion of mevalonic acid-5-pyrophosphate to isopentenyl pyrophosphate (Eq. 13-19) This is a key reaction in the biosynthesis of isoprenoid compounds such as cholesterol and vitamin A (Chapter 22). The phosphate ester formed in step a is a probable intermediate and the reaction probably involves a carbo-cationic intermediate generated by the loss of phosphate prior to the decarboxylation. 

Foster, J.M., Pennock, J.F., Marshall, I. and Rees, H.H. (1 993) Biosynthesis of isoprenoid compounds in Schistosoma mansoni. Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology 61, 275-284. 

John W. Porter and Sandra L. Spurgeon, "Biosynthesis of Isoprenoid Compounds" Vol.l. A Wiley-Interscience Publication, John Wiley and Sons., New York, (l98l). 

Porter, J. W., and Spurgeon, S. L. (1981, 1983) Biosynthesis of Isoprenoid Compounds, Vols. 1 and 2. John Wiley Sons, New York. 

Qureshi N, Porter JW. Conversion of acetyl-coenzyme A to isopentenyl pyrophosphate. In Biosynthesis of isoprenoid Compounds. J. W. Porter and S. L. Spurgeon, eds. 1981. John Wiley, New York. pp. 47-94. 

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