Oral Presentations O7.1 Polyisoprenoids: structure, biosynthesis and function

Polyisoprenoid alcohols, linear polymers of isoprenoid residues are widespread in nature from bacteria to human cells. Their structures, distribution and biogenesis will be highlighted. Membrane localization of polyisoprenoid alcohols within the cell and techniques used for structural elucidation will be presented. Attention will be focused on the biosynthesis of polyisoprenoid alcohols in plants in the context of two coexisting isoprenoid pathways, mevalonate and the recently described methylerythritol phosphate pathway. Structural aspects including modeling of the polyisoprenoid conformation will be presented and finally the postulated biological role of polyisoprenoid alcohols will be discussed including polyisoprenylation of proteins.