Geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate

Geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate is an intermediate in the biosynthesis of some terpenes and terpenoids. In plants it is also the precursor to carotenoids, gibberellins, tocopherols, and chlorophylls.

It is also a precursor to geranylgeranylated proteins, which is its primary use in human cells.

In Drosophila, geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate is synthesised by HMG-CoA encoded by the Columbus gene. Geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate is utilised as a chemoattractant for migrating germ cells that have traversed the midgut epithelia. The attractant signal is produced at the gonadal precursors, directing the germ cells to these sites, where they will differentiate into ova (eggs) and spermatozoa (sperm).