The stereoisomers of α∈-diaminopimelic acid: their distribution in nature and behaviour towards certain enzyme preparations
Year: 1955
Type: article
Abstract: ase-Diaminopimelic acid (1:5-diaminopentane-1:5dicarboxylic acid) is symmetrical about the y- carbon atom and contains two asymmetric centres; it has three stereoisomers, namely the LL, DD and meso (internally compensated) compounds.It appears to be confined to bacterial organisms and is widely distributed among them (Work & Dewey, 1953).Diaminopimelic acid was originally isolated from hydrolysates of Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Mycobacterium tuberculosi8, and the suggestion was made that it was the meao isomer because of its optical inactivity and its behaviour in the presence of the L-amino acid oxidase of Neuro8pora (Work, 1951).Subsequent evidence obtained with diaminopimelic acid decarboxylase supported this view (Work, 1953; Dewey, Hoare & Work, 1954), but rigorous proof could not be ob- tained without a supply ofthe authentic meso isomer.Diaminopimelic acid has also been isolated from the culture filtrate of the lysine auxotroph E8cheri- chia coli 26-26 (Work & Denman, 1953; Wright & Cresson, 1953).Both groups of workers found that this diaminopimelic acid had a slight positive rotation when first crystallized, but after several recrystallizations it was optically inactive.Wright & Cresson suggested that some LL isomer was
Source: Biochemical Journal
DOI: 10.1042/bj0610562
Authors: D. S. Hoare, Elizabeth Work
Institutions: University College Hospital, University College London
Language: English
Subfield: Biochemistry
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W140089950