| Comments |
This enzyme forms part of the peptidoglycan assembly pathway of Gram-positive bacteria grown in medium containing?D-Asp. Normally, the side chains the acylate the 6-amino group of the?L-lysine residue contain?L-Ala-L-Ala but these amino acids are replaced by?D-Asp when?D-Asp is included in the medium. Hybrid chains containing?L-Ala-D-Asp,?L-Ala-L-Ala-D-Asp or?D-Asp-L-Ala are not formed [4]. The enzyme belongs in the ATP-grasp protein superfamily [3,4]. The enzyme is highly specific for?D-aspartate, as?L-aspartate,?D-glutamate,?D-alanine,?D-iso-asparagine and?D-malic acid are not substrates [4]. In?Enterococcus faecium, the substrate?D-aspartate is produced by EC?5.1.1.13, aspartate racemase [4]. |