High-resolution crystal structure of MltE, an outer membrane-anchored endolytic peptidoglycan lytic transglycosylase from Escherichia coli.

The crystal structure of the first endolytic peptidoglycan lytic transglycosylase MltE from Escherichia coli is reported here. The degradative activity of this enzyme initiates the process of cell wall recycling, which is an integral event in the existence of bacteria. The structure sheds light on how MltE recognizes its substrate, the cell wall peptidoglycan.