InterPro domain: IPR004424

4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol kinase is a member of the family of GHMP kinases that were previously designated as conserved hypothetical protein YchB or as isopentenyl monophosphate kinase. In Solanum lycopersicum (Tomato) (Lycopersicon esculentum) and Escherichia coli the protein has been indentified as 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol kinase, an enzyme of the deoxyxylulose phosphate pathway of terpenoid biosynthesis [ 1 ]. This enzyme is involved in the non-mevalonate pathway for isoprenoid biosynthesis [ 2 ] and in it is essential for for chloroplast development [ 3 ].

1. Biosynthesis of terpenoids: YchB protein of Escherichia coli phosphorylates the 2-hydroxy group of 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 97, 1062-7
2. Crystal structure of 4-(cytidine 5'-diphospho)-2-C-methyl-D-erythritol kinase, an enzyme in the non-mevalonate pathway of isoprenoid synthesis. J. Biol. Chem. 278, 30022-7
3. Chloroplast localization of methylerythritol 4-phosphate pathway enzymes and regulation of mitochondrial genes in ispD and ispE albino mutants in Arabidopsis. Plant Mol. Biol. 66, 663-73