ABSTRACT
The C5 isoprene units in isopentenyl pyrophosphate are then condensed to form the C30 compound squalene (Figure 2). First, isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerizes to dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (Figure 2a), which reacts with another molecule of isopentenyl pyrophosphate to form the C10 compound geranyl pyrophosphate (Figure 2b). Another molecule of isopentenyl pyrophosphate then reacts with geranyl pyrophosphate to form the C15 compound farnesyl pyrophosphate. Next, two molecules of farnesyl pyrophosphate condense to form squalene (Figure 2b).
