# Geranyl pyrophosphate

> Geranyl pyrophosphate (GPP) is a ten-carbon terpene precursor that cannabis uses both to build monoterpenes and, joined to olivetolic acid, to make the cannabinoid precursor CBGA.

- Canonical: https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/geranyl-pyrophosphate.html
- Also written: GPP, geranyl diphosphate, GDP (geranyl diphosphate), geranyl-PP
- Glossary category: Cannabinoids and terpenes · Evidence: Established
- Status: Draft: awaiting expert review · Updated: 2026-10-31
- Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), attribute "GenetixBay cannabis glossary"

Geranyl pyrophosphate (GPP, also called geranyl diphosphate) is a C10 isoprenoid made by joining two five-carbon isoprene units. In the [trichome](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/trichome.md) it sits at a fork: [terpene](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/terpene.md) synthases turn GPP into [monoterpenes](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/monoterpene.md) such as myrcene, limonene and pinene, while an aromatic prenyltransferase attaches its geranyl group to [olivetolic acid](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/olivetolic-acid.md) to form [CBGA](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/cbga.md). One more isoprene unit turns GPP into farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP, C15), the start of the [sesquiterpenes](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/sesquiterpene.md).

## In practice

GPP links [cannabinoid](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/cannabinoid.md) and terpene chemistry. Both compete for the same precursor supply in the same glands, which is one reason heavy-resin plants tend to be both potent and aromatic: they simply have more gland capacity. Whether pushing one pathway costs the other in a living plant is not well established. Growers never measure GPP; it is a concept for understanding the pathway.

## Don't confuse with

- **Geraniol**: a monoterpene alcohol made from GPP, which can be measured on a [terpene panel](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/terpene-test.md).
- **Farnesyl pyrophosphate**: the C15 precursor of sesquiterpenes.
- **Pyrophosphate** in fertilisers: unrelated.

## Related terms

[Olivetolic acid](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/olivetolic-acid.md), [CBGA](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/cbga.md), [Monoterpene](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/monoterpene.md), [Terpene](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/terpene.md), [Terpenoid](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/terpenoid.md)

## Sources

1. Gülck T, Møller BL. 2020. Phytocannabinoids: origins and biosynthesis. Trends in Plant Science 25(10):985-1004.
2. Booth JK, Bohlmann J. 2019. Terpenes in Cannabis sativa: from plant genome to humans. Plant Science 284:67-72.