MOLECULE

alpha-Longipinene

α-Longipinene belongs to the class of organic compounds known as sesquiterpenoids. Sesquiterpenoids are terpenes that contain 15 carbon atoms and are comprised of three isoprene units. The biosynthesis of sesquiterpenes is known to occur mainly through the mevalonic acid pathway (MVA), in the cytosol. However, recent studies have found evidence of pathway crosstalk with the methyl-eritritol-phosphate (MEP) pathway in the plastid (PMID: 19932496, 17710406). Farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) is a key intermediate in the biosynthesis of cyclic sesquiterpenes. FPP undergoes several cyclization reactions to yield a diverse number of cyclic arrangements. α-Longipinene is a naturally occurring sesquiterpene found in Norway spruce (PMID: 15310829). α-Longipinene has been detected as a volatile component in cannabis plant samples and essential oils (PMID: 6991645; PMID: 26657499).