a The assembly line model for the biosynthesis of erythromycin in Saccharopolyspora (formerly Streptomyces) erythrea. b, c Details of the domain structure of two of the polyketide synthase proteins. AT, acyl transferase; ACP, acyl carrier protein; KS, ketosynthase; KR, ketoreductase; DH, dehydratase; ER, enoyl reductase. The unshaded domain at the right end of protein 3 in a is the thioesterase. From Figure 8.11 of Hopwood (2007), reproduced by permission of Oxford University Press