Lysine Biosynthesis in Microorganisms

Abstract

Lysine is an essential amino acid that is synthesized in plants and microorganisms via two metabolic routes which evolved independently. Fungi and some archaeal species employ the intermediate α-aminoadipate to anabolize lysine. Bacteria and photosynthetic cohorts, in contrast, employ the intermediate diaminopimelate. The biosynthesis of lysine is of continued interest, because animals do not possess the enzymatic machinery to mediate its synthesis. As such, lysine is deemed essential for humans, as it is one of the 20 ubiquitous proteogenic amino acids that must be acquired through dietary means to facilitate protein synthesis for growth and development. From an antimicrobial drug developme..