Characterization of a thermostable dihydrodipicolinate synthase from Thermoanaerobacter tengcongensis.

Dihydrodipicolinate synthase (DHDPS) catalyses the first reaction of the (S)-lysine biosynthesis pathway in bacteria and plants. The hypothetical gene for dihydrodipicolinate synthase (dapA) of Thermoanaerobacter tengcongensis was found in a cluster containing several genes of the diaminopimelate lysine-synthesis pathway. The dapA gene was cloned in Escherichia coli, DHDPS was subsequently produced and purified to homogeneity.