摘要: Polyketides (PKs) are secondary metabolites produced by bacteria, fungi, and plants. Many of these have important biological activity found clinical use as antibiotics, antifungals, anticancer drugs, immunosuppressants. In this chapter, we discuss the modular type I polyketide synthases (PKSs) using 6-deoxyerythronolide B synthase (DEBS) to illustrate reactions enzymes used in PK synthesis, protein–protein interactions that required for process. A detailed discussion quaternary structure PKSs is given, including evidence from both solution structural studies, intact isolated domains. Other discussed show different strategies chain initiation, extension, termination. The importance reaction kinetics control fidelity product formation discussed, two alternative effects, residence-time occupancy-level control, introduced. Some commercial applications genetic manipulation also discussed.