Gamma-glutamyl compounds and their enzymatic production using bacterial gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase

Amino Acids. 2007;32(3):333-40. doi: 10.1007/s00726-006-0416-9. Epub 2006 Oct 13.

Abstract

Some amino acids and peptides, which have low solubility in water, become much more soluble following gamma-glutamylation. Compounds become more stable in the blood stream with gamma-glutamylation. Several gamma-glutamyl compounds are known to have favorable physiological effects on mammals. Gamma-glutamylation can improve taste and can stabilize glutamine in aqueous solution. Because of such favorable features, gamma-glutamyl compounds are very attractive. However, only a small number of gamma-glutamyl amino acids have been studied although many other gamma-glutamyl compounds may have characteristics that will benefit humans. This is mainly because gamma-glutamyl compounds have not been readily available. An efficient and simple method of producing various gamma-glutamyl compounds, especially gamma-glutamyl amino acids, using bacterial gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase has been developed. With this method, modifications of reactive groups of the substrate and energy source such as ATP are not required, and a wide-range of gamma-glutamyl compounds can be synthesized. Moreover, bacterial gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, a catalyst for this method, is readily available from the strain over-producing this enzyme. The superiority of producing gamma-glutamyl compounds with bacterial gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase over other methods of production is discussed.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacteria / chemistry
  • Bacteria / enzymology*
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Catalysis
  • Glutamine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Glutamine / biosynthesis*
  • Glutamine / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Peptide Biosynthesis, Nucleic Acid-Independent*
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / metabolism*
  • gamma-Glutamyltransferase / chemistry
  • gamma-Glutamyltransferase / metabolism*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Peptides
  • Glutamine
  • gamma-Glutamyltransferase