Isoprenoids, LC is a limited liability company established in the State of Florida in 2005. It was formed in conjunction with the Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of South Florida, and is located in the USF Research Park on Spectrum Blvd, Tampa, Florida, 33620. The president is R. Kennedy Keller, Ph.D., who also holds the position of Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South Florida College of Medicine (http://hsc.usf.edu/medicine/biochemistry/kellerres.html). Dr. Keller, who received his Ph.D. degree from Vanderbilt University and did postdoctoral work at Baylor College of Medicine, has been carrying out research in the field of isoprenoid metabolism for over 28 years. In 1991, Dr. Keller perfected a procedure for the rapid synthesis and isolation of radiolabeled and "cold" isoprenoid pyrophosphates (Journal of Chromatography A, Volume 645 (1) 161-167). The radiolabeled compounds were provided to several researchers in the field, including Nobel Prize winners Michael Brown and Joseph Goldstein (see: Cell 65(3):429-34). In 1993, Dr. Keller and USF marketed his procedure for the preparation of the radiolabeled compounds to American Radiolabeled Chemicals, which is now a leading supplier of [3H] labeled isoprenoid pyrophosphates. In 1996, Dr. Keller was the first to determine the levels of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate in tissues using standards made via his procedure (Biochim Biophys Acta. 1996 Oct 18;1303(3):169-79).
     The goal of Isoprenoids, LC is to provide the research community high quality isoprenoid pyrophosphates at low cost and in bulk. Current suppliers sell these compounds in small amounts at relatively high prices (>$100/mg). Given the cost of quality control, packaging, handling, and shipping, this price is acceptable for small amount of the compounds (< 1 mg). However, in some cases, researchers require amounts in excess of 10 or even 100 mg (see: Why Isoprenoids?). In these cases, Isoprenoids, LC can provide the compounds at a much lower cost per mg.
     The compounds are all prepared in Tampa, Florida using slight modifications (to increase yield) of the original procedure. They are rigorously tested for quality and concentration and guaranteed to meet or exceed the user's requirements.