InterPro domain: IPR003524

Phospho-N-acetylmuramoyl-pentapeptide-transferase ( 2.7.8.13 ) (MraY) is a bacterial enzyme responsible for the formation of the first lipid intermediate of the cell wall peptidoglycan synthesis [ 1 ]. It catalyses the formation of undecaprenyl-pyrophosphoryl-N-acetylmuramoyl-pentapeptide from UDP-MurNAc-pentapeptide and undecaprenyl-phosphate.

MraY is an integral membrane protein with probably ten transmembrane domains. It belongs to family 4 of glycosyl transferases. Homologues of MraY have been found in archaebacteria Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum and in Arabidopsis thaliana (Mouse-ear cress).

1. Topological analysis of the MraY protein catalysing the first membrane step of peptidoglycan synthesis. Mol. Microbiol. 34, 576-85