(6''S'')-6-Fluoroshikimic acid is an antibacterial agent acting on the aromatic biosynthetic pathway. It may be used against ''

Plasmodium falciparum ''Plasmodium falciparum'' is a Unicellular organism, unicellular protozoan parasite of humans, and the deadliest species of ''Plasmodium'' that causes malaria in humans. The parasite is transmitted through the bite of a female ''Anopheles'' mosqu ...

'', the causative agent of malaria. The molecule is targeting the enzymes of the

shikimate 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). ...

. This metabolic pathway is not present in mammals. The mechanism of action of the molecule is not through the inhibition of

chorismate synthase The enzyme chorismate synthase (EC 4.2.3.5) catalyzes the chemical reaction :5-''O''-(1-carboxyvinyl)-3-phosphoshikimate \rightleftharpoons chorismate + phosphate This enzyme belongs to the family of lyases, specifically those carbon-oxygen ly ...

but by the inhibition of

4-aminobenzoic acid 4-Aminobenzoic acid (also known as ''para''-aminobenzoic acid or PABA because the two functional groups are attached to the benzene ring across from one another in the ''para'' position) is an organic compound with the formula H2NC6H4CO2H. PABA i ...

synthesis. The use of the molecule led to resistances in ''

Escherichia coli ''Escherichia coli'' (),Wells, J. C. (2000) Longman Pronunciation Dictionary. Harlow ngland Pearson Education Ltd. also known as ''E. coli'' (), is a Gram-negative, facultative anaerobic, rod-shaped, coliform bacterium of the genus ''Escher ...

''.

References

Antibiotics Fluorinated carboxylic acids Cyclitols Halohydrins Cyclohexenes {{antibiotic-stub

See also

References