Studies on Escherichia coli Enzymes Involved in the Synthesis of Uridine Diphosphate- N -Acetyl-Muramyl-Pentapeptide

The specific activities of l-alanine:d-alanine racemase, d-alanine:d-alanine ligase, and the l-alanine, d-glutamic acid, meso-diaminopimelic acid, and d-alanyl-d-alanine adding enzymes were followed during growth of Escherichia coli. The specific activities were nearly independent of the growth phase. d-Alanine:d-alanine ligase was inhibited by d-alanyl-d-alanine, d-cycloserine, glycine, and glycyl-glycine. l-Alanine:d-alanine racemase was found to be sensitive to d-cycloserine, glycine, and glycyl-glycine. The l-alanine adding enzyme was inhibited by glycine and glycyl-glycine.