Dimethylallyl pyrophosphate

Dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP; or alternatively, dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMADP); also isoprenyl pyrophosphate) is an isoprenoid precursor.

It is an isomer of isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) and exists in virtually all life forms.

The enzyme isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase catalyzes isomerization between DMAPP and IPP.

In contrast, DMAPP is synthesised from HMBPP in the MEP pathway.

At present, it is believed that there is crossover between the two pathways in organisms that use both pathways to create terpenes and terpenoids, such as in plants, and that DMAPP is the crossover product.

Skeletal formula
Skeletal formula
Ball-and-stick model
Ball-and-stick model
Mevalonate pathway
Simplified version of the steroid synthesis pathway with the intermediates isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP), dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP), geranyl pyrophosphate (GPP) and squalene shown. Some intermediates are omitted.