Amino acid racemases: Functions and mechanisms

l-Amino acids are predominant in living organisms, but d-amino acids such as d-alanine and d-glutamate also occur in all eubacterial cell walls. Moreover, even mammals contain endogeneous d-amino acids: d-serine functions as a signaling molecule in mammalian brains, and d-aspartate acts as a mediator in endocrine systems. Various other d-amino acids have been demonstrated in archaea, yeasts, fungi, plants, insects, mollusks and other eucaryotic organisms. These d-amino acids are mostly endogenous and produced in most cases by racemization from their corresponding antipodes by the action of racemases. Therefore, amino acid racemases play a central role in d-amino acid metabolism. Most amino acid racemases require pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP) as a coenzyme, but several others require no coenzymes. Recently, the structures and functions of these two classes of amino acid racemases were clarified on a molecular basis. We here describe recent advances in studies of the functions and mechanisms of PLP-dependent and -independent amino acid racemases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]