Isoprenoid biosynthesis via the methylerythritol phosphate pathway.: (E)-4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate:: chemical synthesis and formation from methylerythritol cyclodiphosphate by a cell-free system from Escherichia coli

2-C-Methyl-D-erythritol cyclodiphosphate is converted into (E)-4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate by a cell-free system from an Escherichia coli strain overexpressing the gcpE gene. The latter diphosphate, representing probably the last intermediate in the MEP pathway for isoprenoid biosynthesis, was identified by comparison with reference material obtained by chemical synthesis. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.