The shikimate pathway: gateway to metabolic diversity

Covering: 1997 to 2023The shikimate pathway is the metabolic process responsible for the biosynthesis of the aromatic amino acids phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan. Seven metabolic steps convert phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) and erythrose 4-phosphate (E4P) into shikimate and ultimately chorismate, which serves as the branch point for dedicated aromatic amino acid biosynthesis. Bacteria, fungi, algae, and plants (yet not animals) biosynthesize chorismate and exploit its intermediates in their specialized metabolism. This review highlights the metabolic diversity derived from intermediates of the shikimate pathway along the seven steps from PEP and E4P to chorismate, as well as additional sections on compounds…

• UO
  University of Washington
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: GM085770, R01-GM085770, F31-HD101307
• NI
  National Institute of General Medical Sciences

  Awards: F32-GM145146, R01-GM085770
• NI
  National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

  Award: R01-AI127622
• EK
  Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

  Award: F31-HD101307