Editing Cantharidin (section)

===Biosynthesis===
The complete mechanism of the [[biosynthesis]] of cantharidin is unknown. Its framework formally consists of two [[isoprene]] units.<ref>{{cite book | title = Secondary-Metabolite Biosynthesis and Metabolism | veditors = Petroski RJ, McCormick SP | publisher = Springer Science & Business Media | date = 2012 | isbn = 978-0-306-44309-1 }}</ref> However, [[feeding studies]] indicate that the biosynthetic process is more complicated, and not a simple product of [[geranyl pyrophosphate]] or related ten-carbon parent structure, as the seeming [[monoterpene]] nature would suggest. Instead, there is a [[farnesol]] (15-carbon) precursor from which certain carbon segments are later excised.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Jiang M, Lü S, Zhang Y | title = The Potential Organ Involved in Cantharidin Biosynthesis in Epicauta chinensis Laporte (Coleoptera: Meloidae) | journal = Journal of Insect Science | volume = 17 | issue = 2 | pages = 52 | date = January 2017 | pmid = 28423415 | pmc = 5633858 | doi = 10.1093/jisesa/iex021 }}</ref>

[[File:Cantharidin biosynthesis2.png|thumb|center|415 px|Biosynthesis from farnesol ⁠— ⁠bonds to be formed and major atoms to be added are in {{color|blue|blue}}; while bonds to be broken and atoms/structural segments to be removed are in {{color|red|red}}.]]

Biosynthesis utilizing farnesol as a key intermediate is further supported by experiments in which key genes whose transcripts are expected to participate in the biosynthesis pathway were interfered with by [[RNA interference]] methods. The [[mevalonate]] pathway ([[MVA pathway]]) is responsible for producing [[isoprenoids]] in many organisms, including farnesol.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Kaneko M, Togashi N, Hamashima H, Hirohara M, Inoue Y | title = Effect of farnesol on mevalonate pathway of Staphylococcus aureus | journal = The Journal of Antibiotics | volume = 64 | issue = 8 | pages = 547–549 | date = August 2011 | pmid = 21772307 | doi = 10.1038/ja.2011.49 }}</ref>  Interference with two genes that participate in the MVA pathway, methyl farnesoate epoxidase (EcMFE) and juvenile hormone epoxide hydrolase (EcJHEH) inhibited the biosynthesis of cantharidin in male blister beetles.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Jiang M, Lü S, Zhang Y | title = Characterization of Juvenile Hormone Related Genes Regulating Cantharidin Biosynthesis in Epicauta chinensis | journal = Scientific Reports | volume = 7 | issue = 1 | pages = 2308 | date = 23 May 2017 | pmid = 28536442 | pmc = 5442126 | doi = 10.1038/s41598-017-02393-w | bibcode = 2017NatSR...7.2308J }}</ref>