A microchemical method for the detection and determination of shikimic acid.

In certain microorganisms, shikimic acid has been shown to be a precursor for the biosynthesis of aromatic amino acids (1). Tracer experiments with cell-free extracts of Escherichia coli have revealed that shikimic acid is formed from uniformly labeled glucose (2). In view of the reports (3) of the biosynthesis of aromatic amino acids from glucose in infant mouse brain, an investigation was begun to determine whether central nervous tissue synthesizes shikimic acid or some analogous compound from glucose. The present report describes some observations on the oxidation of shikimic acid by periodic acid, and the application of this reaction to the quantitative determination of shikimic acid.