2-C-METHYL-D-ERYTHRITOL 4-PHOSPHATE (MEP)

A substrate for terpenoid biosynthesis; terpenoid biosynthesis enzyme Escherichia

ChEBI: 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-(dihydrogen phosphate) is a tetritol phosphate. It has a role as an Escherichia coli metabolite. It is a conjugate acid of a 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate(2-).

Metabolite intermediate specific to the non-mevalonate MEP pathway, generally found in prokaryotes, as precursor to isoprenoids as well as non-isoprenoids like vitamins. As this pathway is not present in humans, it is of interest for the development of bacterium-specific drugs in the search for treatments of infectious diseases.