Glutamate Racemase

In enzymology, glutamate racemase (MurI with a capital i) (EC 5.1.1.3) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

L-glutamate D-glutamate

Hence, this enzyme RacE has one substrate, L-glutamate, and one product, D-glutamate.

This enzyme belongs to the family of isomerases, specifically those racemases and epimerases acting on amino acids and derivatives, including proline racemase, aspartate racemase, and diaminopimelate epimerase. This enzyme participates in glutamate metabolism that is essential for cell wall biosynthesis in bacteria. Glutamate racemase performs the additional function of gyrase inhibition, preventing gyrase from binding to DNA.

Glutamate racemase (MurI) serves two distinct metabolic functions: primarily, it is a critical enzyme in cell wall biosynthesis, but also plays a role in gyrase inhibition. The ability of glutamate racemase and other proteins to serve two distinct functions is known as "moonlighting".

Read more about Glutamate Racemase:  Moonlighting Background, Structure, Enzyme Regulation, Application