Nowicka Beatrycze, Szymańska Renata, Kruk Jerzy
Department of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland.
Postepy Biochem. 2009;55(3):307-14.
Prenylquinones are a group of compounds occurring in all living cells. In their structure a polar head group undergoing redox reactions and a long, hydrophobic side-chain can be found. Due to their amphiphilic character, these compounds are mainly located in biological membranes where they function as electron and proton carriers in the photosynthetic and respiratory electron transport chains. Prenylquinones play also additional roles such as antioxidants, and other more specific functions such as enzyme cofactors. Based on the ring structure, different groups of prenylquinones are distinguished: menaquinones, phylloquinone, ubiquinones and plastoquinones, although also other representatives of this group are known, e.g. tocopherolquinones. Frequently, biosynthesis ability of a given kind of prenylquinones is limited to a certain group of organisms. This review describes the structure, function and biosynthesis of most common prenylquinones.
异戊二烯醌是一类存在于所有活细胞中的化合物。在其结构中，可以发现一个发生氧化还原反应的极性头部基团和一条长的疏水侧链。由于它们的两亲性，这些化合物主要位于生物膜中，在光合和呼吸电子传递链中作为电子和质子载体发挥作用。异戊二烯醌还具有其他作用，如抗氧化剂，以及其他更特殊的功能，如酶辅因子。根据环结构，可区分出不同的异戊二烯醌类别：甲萘醌、叶绿醌、泛醌和质体醌，不过该类别的其他代表物也为人所知，例如生育酚醌。通常，特定种类异戊二烯醌的生物合成能力仅限于某一组生物体。本综述描述了最常见异戊二烯醌的结构、功能和生物合成。
