The instant invention relates to bioproduction of isopentenyl diphosphate within the latex of the rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis. Isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) synthesis from acetate is mediated by a set of enzymes, acetyl-coA acetyltransferase, HMG-coA synthase, HMG-coA reductase, mevalonate kinase, phosphomevalonate kinase and mevalonate diphosphate decarboxylase, encoded by six genes isolated as expressed sequence tag (EST) cDNAs from Hevea brasiliensis latex. In addition, a variant sequence of one of these enzymes, acetyl-coA acetyltransferase, has been found.