Membrane-bound DD-carboxypeptidase and LD-transpeptidase of Streptococcus faecalis ATCC 9790.

Abstract

Isolated membranes of Streptococcus faecalis ATCC 9790 exhibit DD-carboxypeptidase activity (standard reaction: Ac2-l-Lys-d-Ala-d-Ala →d-alanine + Ac2-l-Lys-d-Ala) and ld-trans-peptidase activity (standard reaction: Ac2-l-Lys-d-Ala + acceptor →d-alanine + Ac2-l-Lys-acceptor). The DD-carboxypeptidase activity has a considerable specificity for peptides with a C-terminal l-R3-d-Ala-d-Ala sequence where R3 is an amino acid residue and a long side-chain at the l-R3 position. A corresponding DD-transpeptidation reaction yielding the product Ac2-l-Lys-d-Ala-d-[14C]Ala from the system Ac2-l-Lys-d-Ala-d-Ala-f-d-[14C] alanine was not detected. The ld-transpeptidase activity has a considerable specificity for peptide donors that have an Nα-substituted, C-terminal l-R3-d-Ala sequence with a free ω-amino group at the end of a long side-chain at the l-R3 position, and a considerable specificity for amino group acceptors that are located on a d-carbon in α-position to a free carboxyl group. In the absence of acceptor, hydrolysis of the dipeptide Ac2-l-Lys-d-Ala (ld-carboxypeptidase activity) was not observed. Both DD-carboxypeptidase and ld-transpeptidase activities are inhibited by β-lactam antibiotics, but their relative sensitivity differs according to the particular antibiotic used.