Streptomyces K15 DD-peptidase-catalysed reactions with ester and amide carbonyl donors

In water, the purified 26 000-Mr membrane-bound DD-peptidase of Streptomyces K15 hydrolyses the ester carbonyl donor Ac2-L-Lys-D-Ala-D-lactate (release of D-lactate) and the amide carbonyl donor Ac2-L-Lys-D-Ala-D-Ala (release of D-alanine) with accumulation of acyl- (Ac2-L-Lys-D-alanyl-)enzyme. Whereas hydrolysis of the ester substrate proceeds to completion, hydrolysis of the amide substrate is negligible because of the capacity of the K15 DD-peptidase for utilizing the released D-alanine in a transfer reaction (Ac2-L-Lys-D-Ala-D-Ala + D-Ala----Ac2-L-Lys-D-Ala-D-Ala + D-Ala) that maintains the concentration of the amide substrate at a constant level. In the presence of an amino acceptor X-NH2 (Gly-Gly or Gly-L-Ala) related to the Streptomyces peptidoglycan, both amide and ester carbonyl donors are processed without detectable accumulation of acyl-enzyme. Under proper conditions, the acceptor activity of water and, in the case of the amide substrate, the acceptor activity of the released D-alanine can be totally overcome so that the two substrates are quantitatively converted into transpeptidated product Ac2-L-Lys-D-Ala-NH-X (and hydrolysis is prevented). Experimental evidence suggests that the amino acceptor modifies both the binding of the carbonyl donor to the enzyme and the ensuing rate of enzyme acylation.