A cartoon representation of shikimate kinase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. α-Helices are shown in red, the central β-sheet in yellow, and loops in green
Shikimate kinase (EC2.7.1.71) is an enzyme that catalyzes the ATP-dependent phosphorylation of shikimate to form shikimate 3-phosphate.[1] This reaction is the fifth step of the shikimate pathway,[2] which is used by plants and bacteria to synthesize the common precursor of aromatic amino acids and secondary metabolites. The systematic name of this enzyme class is ATP:shikimate 3-phosphotransferase. Other names in common use include shikimate kinase (phosphorylating), and shikimate kinase II.