Taxadiene

Taxadiene (taxa-4,11-diene) is a diterpene. Taxadiene is the first committed intermediate in the synthesis of taxol.

Enzymatically, taxadiene is produced from geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate by taxadiene synthase.

A biochemical kilogram-scale production of taxadiene has been reported using genetically engineered Escherichia coli. Six hydroxylation reactions, and a few others, are needed to convert taxadiene to baccatin III.