The LICD family of proteins show high sequence similarity and are involved in phosphorylcholine metabolism. There is evidence to show that LicD2 mutants have a reduced ability to take up choline, have decreased ability to adhere to host cells and are less virulent [1]. These proteins are part of the nucleotidyltransferase superfamily [2].

1: Pneumococcal licD2 gene is involved in phosphorylcholine metabolism. Zhang JR, Idanpaan-Heikkila I, Fischer W, Tuomanen EI; Mol Microbiol 1999;31:1477-1488. PMID:10200966

2: Comprehensive classification of nucleotidyltransferase fold proteins: identification of novel families and their representatives in human. Kuchta K, Knizewski L, Wyrwicz LS, Rychlewski L, Ginalski K; Nucleic Acids Res. 2009; [Epub ahead of print] PMID:19833706