Members of this family catalyse the first step in aromatic amino acid biosynthesis from chorismate. E-coli has three related synthetases, which are inhibited by different aromatic amino acids. This family also includes KDSA which has very similar catalytic activity but is involved in the first step of liposaccharide biosynthesis. The enzyme is also part of the shikimate pathway, EC:2.5.1.54.

1: Crystal structure of phenylalanine-regulated 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate synthase from Escherichia coli. Shumilin IA, Kretsinger RH, Bauerle RH; Structure Fold Des 1999;7:865-875. PMID:10425687