shikimic acid pathway
shikimic acid pathway The key metabolic pathway in the biosynthesis of the aromatic amino acids – tyrosine, phenylalanine, and tryptophan – which occurs in plants, bacteria, and fungi, but not in animals. This series of reactions makes these amino acids available to animals, for which they are essential amino acids, required in the diet for proteins and as precursors for a wide range of aromatic molecules. The initial step of the pathway is the condensation of erythrose-4-phosphate (from the pentose phosphate pathway) and phosphoenolpyruvate (from glycolysis). The product of this is then cyclized and reduced to form the intermediate compound shikimate, with the phenolic ring structure characteristic of the aromatic amino acids. Combination with a further molecule of phosphoenolpyruvate produces chorismate, from which alternative pathways lead to either phenylalanine/tyrosine or to tryptophan. An enzyme responsible for a step in the conversion of shikimate to its immediate derivative, 3-enolpyruvyl-shikimate-5-phosphate, is inhibited by the herbicide glyphosate, thus blocking the biosynthesis of aromatic amino acids by the plant.
More From encyclopedia.com
Aspartic Acid , aspartic acid (aspartate) (ă-spar-tik) n. see amino acid.
aspartic acid (aspartate) A non‐essential amino acid.
aspartic acid An aliphatic, acidic, p… Glutamic Acid , glutamic acid A non‐essential amino acid; it is acidic since it has two carboxylic acid groups; its amide is glutamine. See also monosodium glutamate… Arachidonic Acid , arachidonic acid A polyunsaturated fatty acid, CH3(CH2)3(CH2CH:CH)4(CH2)3COOH, that is essential for growth in mammals (see eicosanoid). It can be sy… Carboxylic Acid , Carboxylic acids are chemical compounds that contain a carboxyl group , which is -COOH. The carboxyl group is attached to another hydrogen atom or to… Malic acid , malic acid (2-hydroxybutanedioic acid) A crystalline solid, HOOCCH(OH)CH2COOH. L-malic acid occurs in living organisms as an intermediate metabolite… Lipoic Acid , lipoic acid Chemically, dithio‐octanoic acid, a coenzyme (together with vitamin B1) in the metabolism of pyruvate and in the citric acid cycle. Altho…
You Might Also Like
NEARBY TERMS
shikimic acid pathway