MOLECULE

beta-Chamigrene

β-Chamigrene, also known as (S)-isochamigrene or chamigrene, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as chamigranes. These are sesquiterpenoids characterized by a 1,1,5,9-tetramethylspiro[5,5]undecane skeleton, formally obtained by linking the C1-C6 and C6-C11 of farnesane together. Sesquiterpenes 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. Chamigranes have predominantly been isolated from algae, although they have also been reported to occur in plants. β-chamigrene has been found in lovage and in cannabis samples (PMID: 26657499).