Catalyzes a transaldol reaction between 6-deoxy-5-ketofructose 1-phosphate (DKFP) and L-aspartate semialdehyde (ASA) with an elimination of hydroxypyruvaldehyde phosphate to yield 2-amino-3,7-dideoxy-D-threo-hept-6-ulosonate (ADH) (Probable). Plays a key role in an alternative pathway of the biosynthesis of 3-dehydroquinate (DHQ), which is involved in the canonical pathway for the biosynthesis of aromatic amino acids and which is also a precursor for the biosynthesis of p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) in M.maripaludis. Does not possess fructose-bisphosphate (FBP) aldolase activity. 1-deoxy-D-threo-hexo-2,5-diulose 6-phosphate + L-aspartate 4-semialdehyde = 2,3-dioxopropyl phosphate + 2-amino-2,3,7-trideoxy-D-lyxo-hept-6-ulosonate Homodecamer. Cells lacking this gene require both aromatic amino acids (AroAAs) and p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) for growth. In the presence of PABA and AroAAs, growth of the mutant strain laggs about 30 hours behind that of wild-type strain. By complementing the mutant strain with the expression of aroA', the strain grows in minimal medium with acetate only. Aryl acids do not replace the requirement of AroAAs for the growth of the deletion mutant strain. Belongs to the DeoC/FbaB aldolase family. ADHS subfamily.