Insects, such as the sumac flea beetle, are reported to use phytol and its metabolites ( e . g . phytanic acid ) as chemical deterrents against predation.
12.
Although a wide range of terpene structures exist few of them are biologically significant, by contrast diterpenoids possess a rich pharmacology and include important compounds such as retinol and phytol.
13.
"' Phytol "'is an acyclic diterpene alcohol that can be used as a precursor for the manufacture of synthetic forms of vitamin E and vitamin K1.
14.
The functional isoprene units in biological systems are dimethylallyl pyrophosphate ( DMAPP ) and its isomer isopentenyl pyrophosphate ( IPP ), which are used in the biosynthesis of naturally occurring isoprenoids such as carotenoids, quinones, lanosterol derivatives ( e . g . steroids ) and the prenyl chains of certain compounds ( e . g . phytol chain of chlorophyll ).
