The paper discusses the role of terpene natural products in the natural world. Terpenes are a class of organic compounds that are produced by plants and bacteria, and they play a crucial role in many biological and ecological processes. The paper reviews recent advances in the production and regulation of terpenes, including their biosynthesis, metabolic engineering, and biotechnological applications. The authors discuss the potential of terpenes as biofuels, fragrances, and nutritional supplements, and highlight the challenges and opportunities for their production and processing. The paper also touches on the importance of understanding the regulation of terpene production and the factors that influence its yield and quality.
The paper then shifts its focus to the mevalonate pathway, a metabolic pathway that is instrumental in the synthesis of isoprenoids, including terpenes. The authors review recent advances in the engineering of this pathway, including the use of metabolic engineering, metabolic pathway construction, and flux analysis. They highlight the potential of the mevalonate pathway for the production of high-value compounds, such as isoprenoids, and discuss the challenges and opportunities for its development and applications.