shikimic acid
Star anise extract
Shikimic acid is a biochemical compound that plants produce as a precursor to aromatic amino acids.
It gained prominence as the starting material for synthesizing oseltamivir (Tamiflu), the antiviral medication.
Star anise is a major commercial source: The 2005 bird flu scare created a global shortage of shikimic acid.
Influenza antiviral medication
- antiviralAgent blocking viral spread
- influenzaAcute viral respiratory infection
- H1N1Influenza A subtype
- pandemicGlobal disease outbreak
API · flu treatment · drug manufacturing · shortage · supply chain · stockpile
Something that comes first
- intermediateBetween two levels
- metaboliteSubstance from cellular processes
- pathwayDesignated route for travel
- enzymeProtein that hastens reactions
substrate · biosynthetic · phenylalanine · tyrosine · tryptophan · chirality · stereochemistry · enantiomer
Eight-pointed aromatic seedpod
- sweetgumAromatic tree, spiky fruit
- ginkgoAncient Chinese deciduous tree
- plant extractSubstance derived from vegetation
- harvestingGathering mature crops
seasonal availability · pine · spruce · fir
Bond-forming enzyme
- fermentationMicrobial sugar conversion
- microorganismMicroscopic living entity
- bioreactorVessel for growing organisms
- bioengineeringEngineering applied to biology
genetic modification · production · yield · optimization · purification · extraction · isolation · E. coli
Carbon-bonded chemical substance
- crystallineClear, ordered, brilliant
- derivativeFunction's rate of change
- synthesisCombining parts into whole
- purityUncontaminated quality
laboratory · reactivity · solubility · carboxyl · hydroxyl · spectroscopy · chromatography · titration
Tamiflu
Influenza antiviral medication
- antiviralAgent blocking viral spread
- influenzaAcute viral respiratory infection
- H1N1Influenza A subtype
pandemic · API · flu treatment · drug manufacturing · shortage · supply chain · stockpile
precursor
Something that comes first
- intermediateBetween two levels
- metaboliteSubstance from cellular processes
- pathwayDesignated route for travel
enzyme · substrate · biosynthetic · phenylalanine · tyrosine · tryptophan · chirality · stereochemistry · enantiomer · molecular structure
star anise
Eight-pointed aromatic seedpod
- sweetgumAromatic tree, spiky fruit
- ginkgoAncient Chinese deciduous tree
- plant extractSubstance derived from vegetation
harvesting · seasonal availability · pine · spruce · fir
synthase
Bond-forming enzyme
- fermentationMicrobial sugar conversion
- microorganismMicroscopic living entity
- bioreactorVessel for growing organisms
bioengineering · genetic modification · production · yield · optimization · purification · extraction · isolation · E. coli · microbial
organic compound
Carbon-bonded chemical substance
- crystallineClear, ordered, brilliant
- derivativeFunction's rate of change
- synthesisCombining parts into whole
purity · laboratory · reactivity · solubility · carboxyl · hydroxyl · spectroscopy · chromatography · titration · melting point
- Metabolic Intermediatesphosphoenolpyruvate, homocysteine, citrulline, pyruvate, alpha-ketoglutarate
- biosynthesis intermediatesphosphoenolpyruvate, acetyl-CoA, porphobilinogen
- cyclitolsinositol
- organic acidssalicylic acid, citric acid, tannic acid, indoleacetic acid, uric acid
- Plant Acidscitric acid, ascorbic acid, tannic acid, indoleacetic acid, galacturonic acid
- pine productspine resin, pine tar, pine oil, pine nuts, pine sap
shikimic acidphenylalanine
Essential protein component
tyrosine · tryptophan · lignin · flavonoids · alkaloids