Biochem/physiol Actions Metabolite of the non-mevalonate pathway, generally found in prokaryotes, as precursor to isoprenoids as well as non-isoprenoids like vitamins. As this pathway is not present in humans, it is of interest for the development of bacterium-specific drugs in the search for treatments of infectious diseases. Linkage In E. coli, 1-deoxy-D-xylulose is converted into 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate by phosphorylation of the C-5 hydroxy group by D-xylulokinase. 1 |