What is "chorismic acid"

n. (context organic compound English) The compound ''(3R,4R)-3-[(1-carboxyvinyl)oxy]-4-hydroxycyclohexa-1,5-diene-1-carboxylic acid'', whose anion (term: chorismate) is an important biochemical intermediate in plants and microorganisms

Chorismic acid, more commonly known as its anionic form chorismate, is an important biochemical intermediate in plants and microorganisms. It is a precursor for:

• The aromatic amino acids phenylalanine, tryptophan, and tyrosine
• Indole, indole derivatives and tryptophan
• 2,3-Dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) used for enterobactin biosynthesis
• The plant hormone salicylic acid
• Many alkaloids and other aromatic metabolites.
• The folate precursor para-aminobenzoate (pABA)
• The biosynthesis of Vitamin K and folate in plants and microorganisms.

The name chorismic acid derives from a classical Greek word, χωρίζω meaning "to separate", because the compound plays a role as a branch-point in aromatic amino acid biosynthesis.