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Isoprenoids definitions

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  • Isoprenoid
    A lipid constructed from multiple 5-carbon building blocks, forming diverse structures essential for membrane and biochemical functions.
  • Isoprene
    A 5-carbon molecule with two double bonds and a methyl branch, serving as the fundamental unit for a major lipid class.
  • Terpene
    A simple, linear molecule built from isoprene units, often lacking cyclic structures and easily traced to its origins.
  • Terpenoid
    A complex molecule derived from terpenes, typically featuring cyclic structures and additional functional groups.
  • Steroid
    A major class of isoprenoid with a characteristic fused ring structure, playing key roles in signaling and membrane structure.
  • Lipid Vitamin
    A fat-soluble molecule derived from isoprenoid units, crucial for metabolic and cellular processes.
  • Methyl Group
    A small hydrocarbon branch attached to carbon atoms, used to determine the number of building blocks in certain lipids.
  • Branch Point
    A carbon atom where a methyl group attaches, indicating the presence of an isoprene unit in a molecule.
  • Double Bond
    A chemical feature between two carbon atoms, present in the basic building block but not always reliable for unit counting.
  • Cyclic Structure
    A ring-shaped arrangement of atoms, commonly found in complex isoprenoid derivatives.
  • Functional Group
    A specific chemical moiety added to molecules, increasing complexity and reactivity in certain lipid classes.
  • Citral
    A linear molecule composed of two isoprene units, identifiable by its methyl group branch points.
  • Squalene
    A key linear molecule in the isoprenoid family, notable for its lack of rings and importance in biosynthetic pathways.
  • Limonene
    A cyclic molecule found in citrus, derived from isoprene units and classified as a terpenoid.
  • Ubiquinone
    A mitochondria-associated molecule with cyclic structure and functional groups, belonging to the terpenoid class.