Dynamics of the shikimate pathway in plants

Abstract

The shikimate pathway, a collection of seven enzymatic reactions whose end product is chorismate, has been studied for many years in a variety of microorganisms and plants. In microbial systems, the end product of the pathway is used primarily for the synthesis of aromatic amino acids. In plants, chorismate is the precursor not only for the synthesis of aromatic amino acids, but also for many secondary metabolites with diverse physiological roles. Because of the dual involvement of the shikimate pathway in primary and secondary metabolism, there are long-standing questions regarding its subcellular location, and its potential coordinate regulation with other pathways that use chorismate or its products in response to environmental or developmental demands.