MEP pathway

The non-mevalonate pathway—also appearing as the mevalonate-independent pathway and the 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate/1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate (MEP/DOXP) pathway—is an alternative metabolic pathway for the biosynthesis of the isoprenoid precursors isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP). The currently preferred name for this pathway is the MEP pathway, since MEP is the first committed metabolite on the route to IPP.

The classical mevalonate pathway or HMG-CoA reductase pathway is a metabolic pathway from the biosynthesis of isoprenoid precursors present in most higher eukaryotes and some bacteria. It is important for the production of IPP and DMAPP, which serve as the basis for the biosynthesis of isoprenoid (terpenoid) molecules used in processes as diverse as protein prenylation, cell membrane maintenance, the synthesis of hormones, protein anchoring and N-glycosylation.

Bacteria, plants, and apicomplexan protozoa—such as malaria parasites—are able to produce isoprenoid precursors using an alternative pathway, the MEP pathway, which is a non-mevalonate pathway. In the case of plants and certain protozoa, the biosynthesis of IPP/DMAPP takes place in plastid organelles. Plants synthesise isoprenoid precursors using the mevalonate pathway in the cytoplasm and using the MEP pathway in their chloroplasts. Bacteria that use the pathway include important pathogens such Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

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