The present invention relates to a polypeptide which belongs to the R3R3-type MYB family and which regulates the shikimate pathway towards the production of benzenoids. The shikimate pathway is a biosynthesis pathway through which the three essential aromatic amino acids tyrosine, phenylalanine and tryptophan are synthesized in plants, bacteria and fungi. The present invention provides for the first time a regulatory protein in the shikimate pathway and a means to regulate the biosynthesis of these three essential amino acids which cannot be produced by mammals. At the same time, it opens up the way for the regulation of the biosynthesis of aromatic and non-aromatic compounds which are derived from these essential amino acids. A polypeptide or polynucleotide of the invention may be used in a method for manipulating the transcript levels of the genes of the shikimate pathway towards benzenoids for instance the genes of 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate synthase (DAHPS), 5-enol-pyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS), L-phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and chorismate mutase (CM).