Dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) is an enzyme that plays a crucial role in the biosynthesis of folic acid in microorganisms. It catalyzes the reaction between para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) and dihydropteridine diphosphate to form dihydropteroate, a precursor of folic acid. This enzyme is significant in the context of antibiotic resistance, as it is the target of sulfonamide drugs.
