Biosynthesis of p-aminophenylalanine: part of a general scheme for the biosynthesis of chorisimic acid derivatives.

p-Aminophenylalanine is biosynthesized in Vigna vexillata (L.) A. Rich. from shikimic acid through a pathway different from that giving phenylalanine and tyrosine. Experiments with 1,6-14C-labelled shikimic acid demonstrate that the C3-side chain in p-aminophenylalanine is attached to the original C-1 in shikimic acid. The biosynthesis of p-aminophenylalanine in Vigna vexillata probably follows the same pathway as the biosynthesis of this amino acid in Streptomyces species where it is known to be an intermediate in the biosynthesis of chloramphenicol. It is proposed that the biosynthesis takes place through chorismic acid, 4-amino-3-enolpyruvylcyclohexa-1,5-dienecarboxylic acid, 3-(4-amino-1-carboxycyclohexa-2,5-dienyl) pyruvic acid, and 4'-aminophenyl-yruvic acid. It is proposed that chorismic acid can gave rise to 4-amino-3-enolpyruvylcyclohexa-1,5-dienecarboxylic acid, 2-amino-3-enolpyruvylcyclohexa-4,6-dienecarboxylic acid, and isochorismic acid, and that these three compounds and chorismic acid itself by simple rearrangements and elimination reactions can give rise to most known chorismic acid derivatives, i. e.p-hydroxybenzoic acid, 3,4-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydrobenzoic acid, phenylalanine, tyrosine, p-aminobenzoic acid, p-aminophenylalanine, anthranilic acid, 2-amino-3-hydroxy-2,3-dihydrobenzoic acid, 3-(3-carobxyphenyl) alanine, 3-(3-carbocy-4-hydrocyphenyl) alanine, salicylic acid, and 2,3-dihydroxy2,3-dihydrobenzoic acid.