Thiolester substrates of DD-peptidases and beta-lactamases

With peptide substrates, the penicillin-sensitive DD-peptidases exhibit a strict specificity for D-Ala-D-Xaa C-termini. Only glycine is tolerated as the C-terminal residue, but with a significantly decreased activity. These enzymes also hydrolyse various ester and thiolester analogues of their natural substrates. Some of the thiolesters whose C-terminal leaving group exhibited an L stereochemistry were significantly hydrolysed by some of the studied enzymes, particularly by the Actinomadura R39 DD-peptidase. By contrast, the strict specificity for a D residue in the penultimate position was fully retained. The same esters and thiolesters also behaved as substrates for beta-lactamases. In this case, thiolesters exhibiting L stereochemistry in the C-terminal position could also be hydrolysed, mainly by the class C and class D enzymes. But, more surprisingly, the class C Enterobacter cloacae P99 beta-lactamase also hydrolysed thiolesters containing an L residue in the penultimate position, sometimes more efficiently than the D isomer.