L-rhamnose is a saccharide required for the virulence of some bacteria. Its precursor, dTDP-L-rhamnose, is synthesised by four different enzymes the final one of which is RmlD. The RmlD substrate binding domain is responsible for binding a sugar nucleotide [1,2].

1: Variation on a Theme of SDR. dTDP-6-Deoxy-L- lyxo-4-Hexulose Reductase (RmlD) Shows a New Mg(2+)-Dependent Dimerization Mode. Blankenfeldt W, Kerr ID, Giraud MF, McMiken HJ, Leonard G, Whitfield C, Messner P, Graninger M, Naismith JH; Structure (Camb) 2002;10:773-786. PMID:12057193

2: RmlC, the third enzyme of dTDP-L-rhamnose pathway, is a new class of epimerase. Giraud MF, Leonard GA, Field RA, Berlind C, Naismith JH; Nat Struct Biol 2000;7:398-402. PMID:10802738