Terpenoid Production Through Mevalonate and Methylerythritol Phosphate Pathway and Regulation of Environmental Stress Tolerance

Abstract

Two spatially separated yet inter-connected pathways, mevalonic acid (MVA) and methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathways generate terpenoid precursors in plants. Terpenoid compounds play a significant role in plant metabolism and environmental stress defense. Terpenoids compounds include plant hormones, pigments, and commercially important products. This chapter elaborates on the information on terpenoid biosynthesis and the role of terpenoid compounds in stress protection. The possession of both MVA and MEP pathways provides higher plants an added advantage to overcome the constraints of the sedentary lifestyle. The spatial distribution of the MEP pathway in plastids and the MVA pathway in the cytoplasm helps optimize terpene biosynthesis based on Carbon and ATP flux. Utilizing the buffering capacity of two pathways, plants have diversified the terpenoid cafeteria to adapt to the complex soil and environmental conditions. The perusal of the information highlights the importance of terpenoid compounds 68for adaptation to ecological vagaries, such as extremes of temperature, drought, flooding, nutrient stress, and ozone.

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