Abstract
The compound class of isoprenoids exhibits three groups with geochemical relevance: the terpenoids, the hopanes and the steroids. As a fourth group also GDGTs exhibit highly relevant structural units of isoprenoid origin. All these substance groups are linked via their biosyntheses, which are using primarily the same basic structural educt, the 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene or isoprene (see Fig. 3.1). Principally, isoprenoids are formed by the repetitional addition of these isoprene units.
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Volkman JK (2005) Sterols and other triterpenoids: source specificity and evolution of biosynthetic pathways. Org Geochem 36:139–159
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Schwarzbauer, J., Jovančićević, B. (2016). Isoprenoids. In: From Biomolecules to Chemofossils. Fundamentals in Organic Geochemistry. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-25075-5_3
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