Plant terpenoid permeability through biological membranes explored via molecular simulations

Plants synthesize small molecule terpenoids from a universal C5 precursor isopentenyl diphosphate, manufacturing diverse compounds used for defense, signaling, energy production, and other functions. Industrially, naturally occuring are as natural aromas flavoring, pharmaceuticals, insecticide. Despite terpenoid ubiquity in plant systems, it remains unknown how plants control localization transport. For molecules, cells maintain transport proteins that compound compartmentalization.