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PubMed2002

A strategy for in vivo screening of subtilisin E reaction specificity in E. coli periplasm.

We developed a protocol for efficient expression of the functional serine protease, subtilisin E, in Escherichia coli periplasm that permits direct in vivo measurement of the enzyme's catalytic activity. Activity assays and SDS-PAGE/Western blot analysis showed that the levels of expressed subtilisin varied and were correlated with both the culture conditions and the induction procedures. The highest level of subtilisin expression was achieved at 0.10-0.15% (w/v) of arabinose as inducer and a temperature of 20-22 degrees C, and was ca. eightfold higher as compared to the expression level at 30 degrees C. Cultivation of bacterial cells to a steady state of balanced growth before induction was required for uniform subtilisin expression in cell cultures growing in wells of microtiter plates. Amidase and esterase cell-based kinetic assays on microtiter plates were developed based on the direct measurement of subtilisin activity in vivo. Intact E. coli cells displaying wild-type, dimethylformamide-resistant, and temperature-resistant subtilisins were assayed on N-succinyl-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-p-nitroanilide and N-acetyl-Phe-p-nitrophenyl ester for their amidase and esterase activity, respectively. Additionally, the periplasmic fractions were isolated from the three E. coli strains expressing the respective subtilisins and tested for amidase activity. The amidase activity of the three subtilisins was ca. 15-fold higher than the esterolytic activity when measured in both the intact cells and in the periplasmic fractions. The strategy combining periplasmic expression of subtilisins with two cell-based kinetic assays permits rapid screening of subtilisin mutant libraries for desired activities.

Amidohydrolases↗

PubMed1995

Cryptic dehalogenase and chloroamidase genes in Pseudomonas putida and the influence of environmental conditions on their expression.

Mutants of two strains of Pseudomonas putida expressed two cryptic chloroamidases (C-amidase and H-amidase) and one cryptic dehalogenase (DehII). The mutants were selected on either 2-chloropropionamide (2CPA) or 2-monochloropropionate (2MCPA), developing as papillae in parental colonies growing on a metabolisable support substrate. Mutants expressing C-amidase were selected if 2CPA was utilised as either a carbon or a nitrogen source. H-amidase mutants were selected only if 2CPA was used as a nitrogen source. Growth temperature and pH affected the frequency of papillae production, although different temperatures and pHs did not affect the overall growth characteristics of the parental colonies. Decreasing growth temperature increased the frequency of 2cpa+ papillae formation, but decreased the frequency of 2mcpa+ papillae formation. Low pH (6.0) prevented the formation of 2mcpa+ and 2cpa+ papillae. However, in the case of the 2cpa+ papillae, decreasing the growth temperature also allowed papillae formation at pH 6.0.

Acetamides↗

PubMed1980

Adaptation to phenylacetamide as a growth substrate by an acetanilide-utilizing mutant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Mutants able to utilize phenylacetamide as sole nitrogen source were isolated from the acetanilide (N-phenylacetamide) - utilizing Pseudomonas aeruginosa mutant strain A13 and from its parent strain L 10. Growth properties of the mutants (Ph strains) on amide media and the physicochemical properties of their amidases in cell free extracts indicated that their phenylacetamidase activities were attributable to alterations in their amidases. Differences in amide hydrolase specificities between the AI3- and the L 10-Ph mutants were observed. The AI3 group had a high level of activity towards 4-nitrophenylacetamide, activity towards phenylacetyl-4-nitroaniline but, unlike strain AI3, no activity towards acetyl-4-nitroaniline; the L 10 group had a low activity towards 4-nitrophenylacetamide, no activity towards phenylacetyl-4-nitroaniline but retained the low level of activity towards acetyl-4-nitroaniline exhibited by strain L 10. Confirmation of the association between these altered specificities and alterations in amidases was obtained from analysis of the properties of phenylacetamidases purified from an AI3-Ph mutant (pH 5) and an L 10-Ph mutant (Ph14). The original mutation in the amidase gene of strain AI3 appeared responsible for the differences between the two groups of Ph mutants and the binding interactions with acetanilide that it determined were eliminated in AI3-Ph mutants.

Acetanilides↗

PubMed1987

Interaction of polylysine with bovine factor Xa: effect of divalent cations.

Poly-L-lysine has been demonstrated to partially replace biological cofactors in the activation of prothrombin by factor Xa. The present study was initiated to determine if poly-L-lysine has an effect on the enzymatic activity of factor Xa in the absence of prothrombin. At low ionic strength (50 mM Tris-Cl, pH 8.0, ambient temperature), poly-L-lysine inhibits amidase activity (S-2222) of bovine factor Xa with high affinity (Ki = 7 nM). The inhibition was readily reversed by 100 mM NaCl. The inhibition was also markedly reduced by the addition of 1.0 mM CaCl2 but not by MnCl2 or MgCl2. All three metal ions enhance amidase activity in the absence of poly-L-lysine. Poly-L-lysine also inhibits the amidase activity of factor Xa from which the gamma-carboxyglutamic acid domain has been removed by limited proteolysis with chymotrypsin (factor Xa-GD) but with somewhat lower avidity (Ki = 35 nM). As with native factor Xa, calcium ions reduce the observed inhibition while either manganese or magnesium ions are much less effective. The amidase activity of factor Xa-GD is enhanced with any one of the three divalent cations. These results provide additional support for the existence of a functionally significant binding site for calcium ions outside of the gamma-carboxyglutamic domain of factor Xa.

Amidohydrolases↗

PubMed1990

Modular organization of the lytic enzymes of Streptococcus pneumoniae and its bacteriophages.

The nucleotide sequences of genes cpl7 and cpl9 of the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteriophages Cp-7 and Cp-9, encoding the muramidases CPL-7 and CPL-9, respectively, have been determined. The N-terminal domains of CPL-7 and CPL-9 were virtually identical to that previously reported for the CPL-1 muramidase. The C-terminal domain of the CPL-7 muramidase, however, was different from those of the host amidase and the phage Cp-1 and Cp-9 lysozymes. Whereas all enzymes studied are characterized by repeated sequences at their C termini, the repeat-unit lengths are 20 amino acids (aa) in CPL-1, CPL-9 and in the host amidase, but 48 aa in CPL-7. Six repeated sequences represent the C-terminal domains of CPL-1, CPL-9 and the host amidase, and 2.8 perfect tandem repetitions that of CPL-7. The peculiar characteristics of the structure of CPL-7 muramidase correlate with its biochemical and biological properties. Whereas CPL-1, CPL-9 and the pneumococcal amidase strictly depend on the presence of choline-containing cell walls for activity, CPL-7 is able to degrade cell walls containing either choline or ethanolamine. These results support the previously postulated role for the C-terminal domain of these lytic enzymes in substrate recognition and provide further experimental evidence supporting the notion that the proteins have evolved by an exchange of modular units.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2005

Molecular analysis of the nitrile catabolism operon of the thermophile Bacillus pallidus RAPc8.

The gene cluster containing the nitrile hydratase (NHase) and amidase genes of a moderate thermophile, B. pallidus RAPc8 has been cloned and sequenced. The (5.9 kb) section of cloned DNA contained eight complete open reading frames, encoding (in order), amidase (belonging to the nitrilase related aliphatic amidase family), nitrile hydratase beta and alpha subunits (of the cobalt containing class), a 122-amino acid accessory protein, designated P14K, a homologue of the 2Fe-2S class of ferredoxins and three putative proteins with distinct homology to the cobalt uptake proteins cbiM, cbiN and cbiQ of the S. typhimurium LT2 cobalamin biosynthesis pathway. The amidase and nitrile hydratase genes were subcloned and inducibly expressed in Escherichia coli, to levels of approximately 37 U/mg and 49 U/mg, respectively, without the co-expression of additional flanking genes. However, co-expression of P14K with the NHase structural genes significantly enhanced the specific activity of the recombinant NHase. This is the first description of an accessory protein involved in thermostable NHase expression. Modelling of the P14K protein structure has suggested that this protein functions as a subunit-specific chaperone, aiding in the folding of the NHase alpha subunit prior to alpha-beta subunit association and the formation of alpha(2)beta(2) NHase holoenzyme.

Amidohydrolases↗

PubMed2005

The two-component cell lysis genes holWMY and lysWMY of the Staphylococcus warneri M phage varphiWMY: cloning, sequencing, expression, and mutational analysis in Escherichia coli.

From the genome library of Staphylococcus warneri M, the two successive cell-lysis genes (holWMY and lytWMY) were cloned and characterized. The lytWMY gene encoded a protein (LysWMY), whose calculated molecular mass and pI were 54 kDa and 8.95, respectively. When overproduced in Escherichia coli, lysWMY directed a protein of 45 kDa (smaller than the predicted molecular mass), having N-terminal 13 residues identical with those predicted from DNA. Comparative analysis revealed that LysWMY significantly resembles the putative N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidases encoded by the staphylococcal phages phi11, 80 alpha, and Twort. Examination of modular organization of LysWMY identified three putative domains CHAP (for D-alanyl-glycyl endopeptidase), amidase (L-muramoyl-L-alanine amidase), and SH3 (cell wall recognition). Gene knockout analysis revealed that each of the two domains of CHAP and amidase was responsible for cell-lytic activity on a zymogram gel. Site-directed mutation of Cys29Ala, His92Ala, or Asn114Ala in the CHAP domain substantially reduced cell-lytic activity, suggesting that this Cys-His-Asn triad is crucial for the enzymatic function. On the other hand, the holWMY gene encoded a protein (HolWMY) with molecular mass and pI of 16 kDa and 4.36; this protein contained two potential transmembrane helices, resembling other predicted holins (a cytoplasmic membrane-disrupting protein) encoded by the S. aureus phage, phi11, 80 alpha, and Twort. Upon mitomycin C exposure of S. warneri M, a prophage (phiWMY) was induced and the virion was examined under electron microscopy. PCR amplification and sequencing revealed the presence of the holWMY-lysWMY genes in the phage genome.

Amidohydrolases↗

PubMed1996

Amide metabolism: a putative ABC transporter in Rhodococcus sp. R312.

The DNA sequence has been determined upstream of the amiE structural gene in the amidase operon of Rhodococcus sp. R312 and a new ORF (amiS2) identified. The amiS2 gene encodes a potential 206 amino acid (aa) protein containing a high proportion of hydrophobic residues. The AmiS2 protein possesses high homology to the ORFP3, amiS and ureI gene products from the Mycobacterium smegmatis (Ms) acetamidase operon, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) amidase operon and Helicobacter pylori (Hp) urease operon, respectively. Hydropathic analysis and secondary structure prediction of AmiS2 suggested the presence of seven potential transmembrane (TM) alpha-helices. Sequence analysis of the amiB2 gene, located downstream of the Rhodococcus sp. R312 amiE gene, showed that it encoded a 351-aa protein containing a potential ATP-binding motif. AmiB2 showed significant homology with the ATP-binding subunit of the bacterial Clp protease and high homology with the amiB product located within the Pa amidase operon. AmiB2 and AmiS2 appear to be two components of a recently identified novel family of ABC transporters (Wilson et al., 1995) and might be responsible for the adsorption of amidase substrates or release of their hydrolysis products.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗

PubMed1999

Chemical and mutagenic investigations of fatty acid amide hydrolase: evidence for a family of serine hydrolases with distinct catalytic properties.

Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) is a membrane-bound enzyme responsible for the catabolism of neuromodulatory fatty acid amides, including anandamide and oleamide. FAAH's primary structure identifies this enzyme as a member of a diverse group of alkyl amidases, known collectively as the "amidase signature family". At present, this enzyme family's catalytic mechanism remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the catalytic features of FAAH through mutagenesis, affinity labeling, and steady-state kinetic methods. In particular, we focused on the respective roles of three serine residues that are conserved in all amidase signature enzymes (S217, S218, and S241 in FAAH). Mutation of each of these serines to alanine resulted in a FAAH enzyme bearing significant catalytic defects, with the S217A and S218A mutants showing 2300- and 95-fold reductions in k(cat), respectively, and the S241A mutant exhibiting no detectable catalytic activity. The double S217A:S218A FAAH mutant displayed a 230 000-fold decrease in k(cat), supporting independent catalytic functions for these serine residues. Affinity labeling of FAAH with a specific nucleophile reactive inhibitor, ethoxy oleoyl fluorophosphonate, identified S241 as the enzyme's catalytic nucleophile. The pH dependence of FAAH's k(cat) and k(cat)/K(m) implicated a base involved in catalysis with a pK(a) of 7.9. Interestingly, mutation of each of FAAH's conserved histidines (H184, H358, and H449) generated active enzymes, indicating that FAAH does not contain a Ser-His-Asp catalytic triad commonly found in other mammalian serine hydrolytic enzymes. The unusual properties of FAAH identified here suggest that this enzyme, and possibly the amidase signature family as a whole, may hydrolyze amides by a novel catalytic mechanism.

Affinity Labels↗

PubMed2002

Two-step dimerization for autoproteolysis to activate glycosylasparaginase.

Glycosylasparaginase (GA) is an amidase and belongs to a novel family of N-terminal nucleophile hydrolases that use a similar autoproteolytic processing mechanism to generate a mature/active enzyme from a single chain protein precursor. From bacteria to eukaryotes, GAs are conserved in primary sequences, tertiary structures, and activation of amidase activity by intramolecular autoproteolysis. An evolutionarily conserved His-Asp-Thr sequence is cleaved to generate a newly exposed N-terminal threonine, which plays a central role in both autoproteolysis and in its amidase activity. We have recently determined the crystal structure of the bacterial GA precursor at 1.9-A resolution, which reveals a highly distorted and energetically unfavorable conformation at the scissile peptide bond. A mechanism of autoproteolysis via an N-O acyl shift was proposed to relieve these conformational strains. However, it is not understood how the polypeptide chain distortion was generated and preserved during the folding of GA to trigger autoproteolysis. An obstacle to our understanding of GA autoproteolysis is the uncertainty concerning its quaternary structure in solution. Here we have revisited this question and show that GA forms dimers in solution. Mutants with alterations at the dimer interface cannot form dimers and are impaired in the autoproteolytic activation. This suggests that dimerization of GA plays an essential role in autoproteolysis to activate the amidase activity. Comparison of the melting temperatures of GA dimers before and after autoproteolysis suggests two states of dimerization in the process of enzyme maturation. A two-step dimerization mechanism to trigger autoproteolysis is proposed to accommodate the data presented here as well as those in the literature.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

PubMed2005

Nitrile pathway involving acyl-CoA synthetase: overall metabolic gene organization and purification and characterization of the enzyme.

Two open reading frames (nhpS and acsA) were identified immediately downstream of the previously described Pseudomonas chlororaphis B23 nitrile hydratase (NHase) gene cluster (encoding aldoxime dehydratase, amidase, the two NHase subunits, and an uncharacterized protein). The amino acid sequence deduced from acsA shows similarity to that of acyl-CoA synthetase (AcsA). The acsA gene product expressed in Escherichia coli showed acyl-CoA synthetase activity toward butyric acid and CoA as substrates, with butyryl-CoA being synthesized. From the E. coli transformant, AcsA was purified to homogeneity and characterized. The quality of the recombinant protein was verified by the NH2-terminal amino acid sequence and the results of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The apparent Km values for butyric acid, CoA, and ATP were 0.32 +/- 0.04, 0.37 +/- 0.02, and 0.22 +/- 0.02 mm, respectively. AcsA was shown to be a short-chain acyl-CoA synthetase, according to the catalytic efficiencies (kcat/Km) for various acids. The substrate specificity of AcsA was similar to those of aldoxime dehydratase, NHase, and amidase, the genes of which coexist in the same orientation in the gene cluster. P. chlororaphis B23 grew when cultured in a medium containing butyraldoxime as the sole carbon and nitrogen source. The activities of aldoxime dehydratase, NHase, and amidase were detected together with that of acyl-CoA synthetase under the culture conditions used. Moreover, on culture in a medium containing butyric acid as the sole carbon source, acyl-CoA synthetase activity was also detected. Together with the adjacent locations of the aldoxime dehydratase, NHase, amidase, and acyl-CoA synthetase genes, these findings suggest that the four enzymes are sequentially correlated with one another in vivo to utilize butyraldoxime as a carbon and nitrogen source. This is the first report of an overall "nitrile pathway" (aldoxime-->nitrile-->amide-->acid-->acyl-CoA) comprising these enzymes.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1993

Cloning and sequencing of the gene which encodes the highly inducible acetamidase of Mycobacterium smegmatis.

The acetamidase of Mycobacterium smegmatis NCTC 8159 was purified, and the sequences of its amino-terminus and of two peptides obtained by proteolysis of the protein were obtained. A DNA fragment including the amidase structural gene was cloned in Escherichia coli, using oligonucleotide probes designed on the basis of the peptide sequences and a codon usage table calculated from published sequences of nine protein-antigen-encoding genes of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. Sequence analysis of the cloned DNA revealed that the amidase gene encoded 406 amino acid residues. The nucleotide sequence close to and upstream of the amidase gene contained a probable ribosome-binding site but no identifiable promoter sequences. Three additional potential open-reading frames were found upstream of and very close to the amidase gene, with consensus '-35' and '-10' promoter sites between the first and second of these. It is hoped that the highly inducible expression of the acetamidase gene can be exploited to allow regulated expression of other genes cloned in mycobacteria.

Amidohydrolases↗

PubMed1994

Nitrile hydratase gene from Rhodococcus sp. N-774 requirement for its downstream region for efficient expression.

For improvement of the production of nitrile hydratase (NHase) from Rhodococcus sp. N-774 by recombinant DNA techniques, several plasmids, each of which had a deletion of the upstream or downstream region of the genes encoding the alpha and beta subunits of NHase, were constructed. Enzyme assays of recombinant R. rhodochrous and Escherichia coli cells showed that a downstream region of the NHase genes was indispensable for the production of active NHase in both cells, but for the production of the active amidase, no genes other than the amidase structural gene were required. The nucleotide sequence of the downstream region contained a single open reading frame (Orf1188) with 396 amino acids. Orf1188 showed similarity in amino acid sequence to P47K, an open reading frame found downstream of the NHase genes from Pseudomonas chlororaphis B23, and also to the cobW gene product, which may be involved in cobalamin biosynthesis in Pseudomonas denitrificans. Because the distance between the TGA stop codon for the NHase beta-subunit and the ATG codon for Orf1188 is only 98 bp, and because production of both Orf1188 and NHase is dependent on a promoter upstream of the amidase gene, these genes appear to be co-transcribed in a polycistronic manner, forming an operon. By optimization of the culture conditions of R. rhodochrous carrying pKRNH2, which contained the amidase, NHase, and Orf1188 genes, the transformant showed the NHase activity 6-fold higher than that of the original strain, Rhodococcus sp. N-774.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2006

Downregulation of the Drosophila immune response by peptidoglycan-recognition proteins SC1 and SC2.

Peptidoglycan-recognition proteins (PGRPs) are evolutionarily conserved molecules that are structurally related to bacterial amidases. Several Drosophila PGRPs have lost this enzymatic activity and serve as microbe sensors through peptidoglycan recognition. Other PGRP family members, such as Drosophila PGRP-SC1 or mammalian PGRP-L, have conserved the amidase function and are able to cleave peptidoglycan in vitro. However, the contribution of these amidase PGRPs to host defense in vivo has remained elusive so far. Using an RNA-interference approach, we addressed the function of two PGRPs with amidase activity in the Drosophila immune response. We observed that PGRP-SC1/2-depleted flies present a specific over-activation of the IMD (immune deficiency) signaling pathway after bacterial challenge. Our data suggest that these proteins act in the larval gut to prevent activation of this pathway following bacterial ingestion. We further show that a strict control of IMD-pathway activation is essential to prevent bacteria-induced developmental defects and larval death.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[A substrate inhibitor analysis of the urinary excretion of tissue and plasma kallikreins in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis].

The usage of substrate inhibitor analysis made it possible to estimate the levels of excretion of plasma proteinases, including plasma kallikrein in the urinary DValLeuArgpNA (S-2266)- and DProPheArgpNA (S-2302)-amidase activity in patients with latent and nephrotic types of chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN). The soya bean trypsin inhibitor, an inhibitor of plasma kallikrein and other plasma proteinases, such as that of the blood coagulative factors XIa and XIIa, and the high selective plasma kallikrein inhibitor DPhePheArgCH2Cl were used as those differentiating kallikreins of tissue and plasma origin. The S-2266 and S-2302-amidase activity of the urine from healthy subjects was shown to be determined by only tissue (renal) kallikrein. The urine from the patients with a latent CGN type displayed the activity of plasma proteinases, but plasma kallikrein made no significant contribution to the urine amidase activity in these patients. With a nephrotic CGN type, great quantities of trypsin-like proteinases were secreted from the plasma through the glomerular filter into the urine, the proportion of plasma kallikrein in the urinary S-2266 and S-2302-amidase activities being approximately 27%. The compensatory and pathogenetic role of plasma kallikrein is discussed if there is lower excretion of tissue (renal) kallikrein in CGN with the nephrotic syndrome.

Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones↗

PubMed1988

Purification and characterization of two glycopeptide hydrolases from jack beans.

Two glycopeptide hydrolases, an endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase and peptide:N-glycanase (amidase), have been isolated from defatted jack bean meal by standard procedures involving differential solubility and column chromatography. The purified products appear to be free of contaminating proteases and exoglycosidases, and their substrate specificity has been explored with regard to both glycan and peptide structure of the substrates. The endoglycosidase appears to be specific for high mannose glycans; no hydrolysis of either hybrid or complex glycans has been observed. It shows limited activity with two intact glycoproteins, ribonuclease B and yeast invertase, and gives optimal rate with glycopeptides. Free glycan-Asn derivatives are poor substrates in comparison with glycopeptides or glycan-Asn derivatives where the alpha-amino group has been dansylated. The amidase will liberate both high mannose, hybrid, and asialo-complex glycans from both proteins and peptides, but many glycans in intact proteins or in long peptides are resistant to the amidase and become active as substrates only after further proteolytic cleavage. The best substrates appear to be those with the glycosylated asparagine no more than 4-5 residues in from either the NH2- or COOH-terminal end of the peptide. Sialylated glycans do not appear to be released by the amidase.

Chromatography, Gel↗

PubMed2005

IS2-mediated re-arrangement of the promoter sequence suppresses metabolic burden of the recombinant plasmid.

Recombinant plasmid pKA18 of the high expression bacterial system for penicillin amidase ('penicillin G acylase') bears the 3' end region of IS2 element. The IS2 sequence replaces the -35 region of promoter of pga and extends up to TAGTAT box at position -10 of the promoter region. It therefore forms a hybrid promoter of pga ppgaHT. A natural promoter ppgaWT was not detected on any recombinant plasmid isolated from recombinant strains of Escherichia coli constitutively producing penicillin amidase. PCR fragments carrying both types of promoters were cloned into the promoter-probe vector pET2 to compare their transcriptional activity: the activity of ppgaWT was 5x higher than that of ppgaHT. The same nucleotide "G" localized 28 nucleotides upstream of the translation start point was identified as the respective transcription start point of both mRNAs. An attempt was made to place the pga gene cloned on a plasmid under the control of the natural promoter: not a single clone expressing penicillin amidase was found among 150 transformants. High transcriptional activity of the natural promoter together with high pga gene dosage could result in a deleterious metabolic burden of the periplasmic enzyme.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1994

Binding site-shaped repeated sequences of bacterial wall peptidoglycan hydrolases.

The non-catalytic C-terminal regions of the N-acetylmuramidase (lysozyme) of Clostridium acetobutylicum and N-acetylmuramoyl(D-lactyl)-L-alanine amidases CwlA of Bacillus subtilis, ORFL3 and CwlL of Bacillus licheniformis were previously reported to have similarities with the amino acid sequence of the non-catalytic N-terminal module of the Streptomyces albus G Zn DD-peptidase. This peptidase is a bipartite protein of known three-dimensional structure. Its non-catalytic N-terminal module possesses, exposed at the surface, an elongated crevice which is defined by a loop-helix-loop-helix motif that consists of two repeats, each 16 amino acid residues long, connected by a heptapeptide and whose design is compatible with its possible functioning as a substrate recognition and binding site. Amino acid alignments suggest that cavities nearly identical in shape to that present in the non-catalytic module of the S. albus peptidase, are borne by the C-terminal regions of the CwlA amidase (in one copy), the lysozyme and the ORFL3 and CwlL amidases (in two copies). Since a common feature of the five enzymes is their substrate, the bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan, we interpret the striking similarity of their non-catalytic N- or C-terminal modules to suggest that these modules are involved in the binding of these exocellular enzymes to their insoluble wall substrate.

Amino Acid Sequence↗