D-alanyl-D-alanine peptidases catalyze the crosslinking of peptidoglycan inthe final stages of bacterial cell wall biosynthesis. The DD-peptidases are the targets for B-lactam antiobiotics(penicillins and cephalosporins). The structure of the enzyme from Streptomyces R61 has been determined to 1.6A resolution (Crystallographic R-factor = 0.153). We are now studying complexes of the native enzyme with drug molecules and substrate analogs. These studies will be facilitated by access to the Cambridge Structural Database.
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