The phrase "a key precursor for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate something that is essential or fundamental in leading to or causing another event or development.
Example: "The discovery of DNA was a key precursor for advancements in genetic engineering."
Alternatives: "an essential precursor to" or "a crucial precursor for".
Mr. Russell, the director of "Silver Linings Playbook," was left off the guild's list, considered a key precursor for the Oscars, not only for best director but also for the eventual best picture winner.
It could help in digestion, he speculates, or be a key precursor for other metabolically important chemicals, such as prostaglandins.
Hydrazide 14 is used as a key precursor for many chemical transformations to synthesize a variety of important heterocycles.
Glycerol, a key precursor for 3-HP biosynthesis was produced by overexpression of the GPD1 and GPP2 genes from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
In Δadh1 cells, the levels of acetyl-CoA, a key precursor for biologically applicable components, could be insufficient for normal cell growth.
Firstly, to increase the supply of β-carotene as a key precursor for astaxanthin, a positive mutant of GGPP synthase (CrtE03M) was overexpressed together with three other rate-limiting enzymes tHMG1, CrtI and CrtYB.
3-(Bromoacetyl coumarin (4), a key precursor of Hantzsch thiazole synthesis for the hydrazinyl thiazolyl coumarin library, was prepared by a two-step sequence (Scheme 1).
In other words, if the stoichiometric coefficient of a key precursor of biomass composition is a positive value, the key precursor is used for biomass production, whereas if the stoichiometric coefficient of a key precursor is a negative value, the production of the key precursor is associated with biomass production.
However, c-Myc appears to be activated at the earliest phases in prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, contributing to disease initiation and progression, and c-Myc is a key precursor lesion for invasive prostatic adenocarcinoma.
Most notably, the "Birmingham sound" (the mid-90s industrial output of Regis, Surgeon and the club House of God) was a key precursor to modern Berlin techno.
In June 2008, Cambodian authorities seized and destroyed 33 tons of Safrole, a key precursor chemical in MDMA.
