Studies on bacterial cell wall inhibitors. X. Properties of phosph-N-acetylmuramoyl-pentapeptide-transferase in peptidoglycan synthesis of Bacillus megaterium and its inhibition by amphomycin.

ABSTRACT

The phospho-N-acetylmuramoyl-pentapeptide-transferase from Bacillus megaterium KM was characterized by the transfer reaction. The particulate enzyme preparation had the activity to transfer phospho-N-acetylmuramoyl-pentapeptide from UDP-N-acetylmuramoyl-pentapeptide to undecaprenoid-1-ol-phosphate. The optimum pH for activity was about 8.5. The reaction required the presence of Mg2+ and an SH-protector. With 25 mm Mg2+ the maximum activity was observed. The reaction was reversible and so the addition of UMP decreased the formation of undecaprenoid-1-ol-diphospho-N-acetylmuramoyl-pentapeptide. Amphomycin inhibited non-competitively the transferase for the substrate UDP-N-acetylmuramoyl-pentapeptide.