Prephenic acid, commonly also known by its anionic form prephenate, is an intermediate in the biosynthesis of the aromatic amino acids phenylalanine and tyrosine, as well as of a large number of secondary metabolites of the shikimate pathway.

What is the role of Prephenic acid in the synthesis of phenylalanine and tyrosine?

Prephenic acid, commonly also known by its anionic form prephenate, is an intermediate in the biosynthesis of the aromatic amino acids phenylalanine and tyrosine, as well as of a large number of secondary metabolites of the shikimate pathway.

What does the shikimic acid pathway do?

The shikimic acid pathway is responsible for the production of vitamins and aromatic amino acids such as phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan. It is also a source of precursors which are converted to an array of natural products.

What is shikimic Chorismic pathway?

The shikimate pathway (shikimic acid pathway) is a seven-step metabolic pathway used by bacteria, archaea, fungi, algae, some protozoans, and plants for the biosynthesis of folates and aromatic amino acids (tryptophan, phenylalanine, and tyrosine).

What is phenylalanine made from?

Good sources of phenylalanine are eggs, chicken, liver, beef, milk, and soybeans. Another common source of phenylalanine is anything sweetened with the artificial sweetener aspartame, such as diet drinks, diet foods and medication; the metabolism of aspartame produces phenylalanine as one of the compound’s metabolites.

What is amino acid pathway?

All amino acids are derived from intermediates in glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, or the pentose phosphate pathway. Nitrogen enters these pathways by way of glutamate and glutamine. Mammals can synthesize only about half of them—generally those with simple pathways.

What is shikimic acid found in?

Shikimic acid can also be extracted from the seeds of the sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) fruit, which is abundant in North America, in yields of around 1.5%. For example, 4 kg of sweetgum seeds is needed for fourteen packages of Tamiflu. By comparison, star anise has been reported to yield 3% to 7% shikimic acid.

What is the end product of shikimic acid pathway?

A key branch-point compound is chorismic acid, the final product of the shikimate pathway. The shikimate pathway is described in this chapter, as well as factors that induce the synthesis of phenolic compounds in plants.

How is shikimic acid formed?

The shikimic acid is formed through the following biosynthesis pathway as described in Fig. 16.1. Phosphoenolpyruvate reacts with erythrose 4-phosphate to yield 3-deoxy-d-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate (DAHP), in the presence of catalyst, i.e., enzyme DAHP synthase.

What is phenylalanine in?

Phenylalanine occurs naturally in many protein-rich foods, such as milk, eggs and meat. Phenylalanine is also sold as a dietary supplement.