• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.197-201
• /
• 2006

Diaminopimelate decarboxylase (DAPDC, EC 4.1.1.20) catalyzes the conversion of diaminopimelate into lysine (Lys), which is the last step in Lys biosynthetic pathway. The genes for DAPDC have been reported in many bacteria, and more recently in Arabidopsis. Here we report characterization of a gene for DAPDC from rice (OsDAPDC). Sequence analysis of a cDNA clone revealed a full-length open reading frame for OsDAPDC that encoded 490 amino acids, approximately 53.2 kDa protein. The OsDAPDC protein contains a consensus binding site for pyridoxal-5'-phosphate as a cofactor and has a sequence at the amino terminus that resembles a transit peptide for localization to plastids, similar to that of Arabidopsis. Single gene encoding DAPDC was found in chromosome II in rice. The predicted amino acid sequence of OsDAPDC is highly homologous to that of the enzymes for DAPDC encoded by lysA of many bacteria. Expression of OsDAPDC in lysA mutants of Escherichia coli shows that the gene is able to functionally complement the mutants. These results suggest that OsDAPDC encodes a protein for diaminopimelate decarboxylase in rice.