3-Dehydroquinate synthase II was isolated from the archaeon Methanocaldococcus jannaschii and plays a key role in an alternative pathway for the biosynthesis of 3-dehydroquinate (DHQ), an intermediate of the canonical pathway for the biosynthesis of aromatic amino acids. The enzyme catalyzes a two-step reaction - an oxidative deamination, followed by cyclization. The enzyme converts 2-amino-3,7-dideoxy-D-threo-hept-6-ulosonate to 3-dehydroquinate.