Sharkey T D
Endeavour. 1996;20(2):74-8. doi: 10.1016/0160-9327(96)10014-4.
Isoprene is emitted from both plants and animals at significant rates. There is evidence for a specific enzyme, isoprene synthase, that produces isoprene from dimethyl allyl pyrophosphate, one of the intermediates involved in the synthesis of higher-order isoprenoids such as cholesterol, carotenoids and monoterpenes (for example, pine scent). The role of isoprene in animals is unknown, but there is recent evidence that isoprene helps protect plant membranes involved in photosynthesis from thermal damage. Isoprene emission from plants is a natural process that contributes more hydrocarbon to the atmosphere than all of the anthropogenic hydrocarbons.
异戊二烯以相当高的速率从植物和动物中释放出来。有证据表明存在一种特定的酶——异戊二烯合酶，它能从二甲基烯丙基焦磷酸生成异戊二烯，二甲基烯丙基焦磷酸是参与合成诸如胆固醇、类胡萝卜素和单萜（例如松树气味）等高级异戊二烯类化合物的中间体之一。异戊二烯在动物体内的作用尚不清楚，但最近有证据表明异戊二烯有助于保护参与光合作用的植物膜免受热损伤。植物释放异戊二烯是一个自然过程，它向大气中贡献的碳氢化合物比所有人为来源的碳氢化合物还要多。
