Question

One of the linkages in squalene is tail-to-tail, not head-to-tail. What does this suggest about how squalene is synthesized in nature?

Short answer

The tail-to-tail linkage lies in the middle of the structure indicating that the two parts are prepared separately in a head-to-tail manner which is then joined in a tail-to-tail manner to obtain squalene.

Squalene

Step-by-step solution

Squalene

This organic compound is a triterpene. This compound has a yellow appearance and oily character. This compound is extracted from shark liver oil. It is used in vaccine adjuvants.

Parts of the isoprene unit

There are two parts to the isoprene unit, i.e., the head that is the branched end and the tail that is the un-branched end. There are a total of five carbon atoms in one isoprene unit.

About the linkages in squalene

The squalene structure is divided into two parts. The two parts contain equal chain lengths.

The tail-to-tail linkage lies in the middle of the structure indicating that the two parts are prepared separately in a head-to-tail manner which is then joined in a tail-to-tail manner to obtain squalene.

Squalene