title: Convergent strategies in biosynthesis.
abstract: This review article focuses on how nature sometimes solves the same problem in the biosynthesis of small molecules but using very different approaches. Four examples, involving isopentenyl diphosphate, menaquinone, lysine, and aromatic polyketides, are highlighted that represent different strategies in convergent metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Engineering and Graduate School of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8628, Japan. dairi@eng.hokudai.ac.jp
authors.forename: Tohru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dairi
authors.forename: Tomohisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuzuyama
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishiyama
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fujii
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D001688:Biological Products / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D008239:Lysine / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D018942:Macrolides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D015394:Molecular Structure; D013729:Terpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D024482:Vitamin K 2 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D018942:Macrolides; D013729:Terpenes; D024482:Vitamin K 2; D008239:Lysine