Sabinene, a bicyclic monoterpene, is present in the (+) and (−)
enantiomers. It is biosynthesized from the common terpenoid precursor,
geranyl pyrophosphate (GPP) that undergoes polycyclization catalyzed by sabinene synthase (SabS). GPP is formed from the terpenoid synthesis pathway with the starter units,
isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) and
dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP). The starter units, IPP and DMAPP, can be synthesized from either the
mevalonate (MVA) or the
methylerythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway. Further ionization and cyclization results in the formation of sabinene. ==See also==