Background
The shikimate pathway consists of seven enzymatic reactions by which phosphoenolpyruvate and erythrose 4-phosphate are converted to chorismate, the common precursor of the aromatic amino acids phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan. The aromatic amino acids are used in the synthesis of proteins and, in plants, fungi, and bacteria, give rise to a number of other specialized metabolites, such as phenylpropanoids and alkaloids. Chorismate and several other intermediates of the pathway serve as precursors for a number of other metabolites, such as folates, quinates, and quinones. The four enzymes that precede shikimate kinase in the pathway are DAHP synthase, 3-dehydroquinate synthase, 3-dehydroquinate dehydratase, and shikimate dehydrogenase, and the two that follow it are EPSP synthase and chorismate synthase. The shikimate pathway is not found in humans and other animals, which must obtain the aromatic amino acids from their food.
Read more about this topic: Shikimate Kinase
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