Anhydro-N-acetylmuramic acid kinase catalyses the specific phosphorylation of 1,6-anhydro-N-acetylmuramic acid (anhMurNAc) with the simultaneous cleavage of the 1,6-anhydro ring, generating MurNAc-6-P. It is also required for the utilization of anhMurNAc, either imported from the medium, or derived from its own cell wall murein, and in so doing plays a role in cell wall recycling [1,2].

1: Recycling of the anhydro-N-acetylmuramic acid derived from cell wall murein involves a two-step conversion to N-acetylglucosamine-phosphate. Uehara T, Suefuji K, Valbuena N, Meehan B, Donegan M, Park JT; J Bacteriol. 2005;187:3643-3649. PMID:15901686

2: MurQ Etherase is required by Escherichia coli in order to metabolize anhydro-N-acetylmuramic acid obtained either from the environment or from its own cell wall. Uehara T, Suefuji K, Jaeger T, Mayer C, Park JT; J Bacteriol. 2006;188:1660-1662. PMID:16452451