Diaminopimelate Pathway on:
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Diaminopimelic acid (DAP) is an amino acid, representing an epsilon-carboxy derivative of
lysine
Lysine (symbol Lys or K) is an α-amino acid that is a precursor to many proteins. It contains an α-amino group (which is in the protonated form under biological conditions), an α-carboxylic acid group (which is in the deprotonated −C ...
.
DAP is a characteristic of certain cell wall
A cell wall is a structural layer surrounding some types of cells, just outside the cell membrane. It can be tough, flexible, and sometimes rigid. It provides the cell with both structural support and protection, and also acts as a filtering mech ...
s of some bacteria. DAP is often found in the peptide linkages of NAM-NAG chains that make up the cell wall of gram-negative bacteria. When provided, they exhibit normal growth. When in deficiency, they still grow but with the inability to make new cell wall peptidoglycan.
This is also the attachment point for Braun's lipoprotein.
See also
* Aspartate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase, an enzyme involved in DAP synthesis * Peptidoglycan * Pimelic acidImages
References
Amino acids Dicarboxylic acids Non-proteinogenic amino acids {{organic-compound-stub