Figure 2.
Directed evolution can be used to generate novel metabolic routes to useful chemicals. A phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP)-independent route (shown in black) to the key intermediate, 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonic acid 7-phosphate (DAHP), was engineered by using directed evolution to enhance a weak DAHP-synthesizing activity present in 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogalactonate (KDPGal) aldolase [23•]. The original route using DAHP synthase is shown in gray.
