Taxadiene: a tricyclic diterpene
As with most terpenes a huge number of potential structures exists, which may be broadly divided according to the number of rings present.
Retinol, a diterpenoid is one of the animal forms of vitamin A
Phytol, a diterpenoid is used in the biosynthesis of vitamin E and vitamin K1
Diterpenes are formally defined as being hydrocarbons and thus contain no heteroatoms. Functionalized structures should instead be called diterpenoids,[4] although in scientific literature the two terms are often used interchangeably. Although a wide range of terpene structures exist, few of them are biologically significant; by contrast, diterpenoids possess a rich pharmacology and include important compounds such as retinol, phytol or taxadiene.
Taxanes are class of diterpenoids featuring a taxadiene core. They are produced by plants of the genus Taxus (yew trees) and are widely used as chemotherapy agents.[5]
- ^ Eberhard Breitmaier (2006). "Diterpenes". Terpenes: Flavors, Fragrances, Pharmaca, Pheromones. pp. 52–81. doi:10.1002/9783527609949.ch4. ISBN 978-3-527-60994-9.
- ^ Davis, Edward M.; Croteau, Rodney (2000). "Cyclization Enzymes in the Biosynthesis of Monoterpenes, Sesquiterpenes, and Diterpenes". Topics in Current Chemistry. 209: 53–95. doi:10.1007/3-540-48146-X_2. ISBN 978-3-540-66573-1.
- ^ Pattanaik B, Lindberg P (January 2015). "Terpenoids and their biosynthesis in cyanobacteria". Life. 5 (1): 269–93. doi:10.3390/life5010269. PMC 4390852. PMID 25615610.
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- ^ Rowinsky, MD, Eric K. (February 1997). "The Development and Clinical Utility of the Taxane Class of Antimicrotubule Chemotherapy Agents". Annual Review of Medicine. 48 (1): 353–374. doi:10.1146/annurev.med.48.1.353. PMID 9046968.
- ^ Jefferies, P. R.; Payne, T. G.; Raston, C. L.; White, A. H. (1981). "The chemistry of Dodonaea spp. VIII. Isolation and crystal structure of a diterpene acid from Dodonaea petiolaris". Australian Journal of Chemistry. 34 (5): 1001–1007. doi:10.1071/CH9811001.