Dihydrodipicolinate reductase (DapB) reduces the alpha,beta-unsaturated cyclic imine, dihydro-dipicolinate. This reaction is the second committed step in the biosynthesis of L-lysine and its precursor meso-diaminopimelate, which are critical for both protein and cell wall biosynthesis. The C-terminal domain of DapB has been proposed to be the substrate- binding domain.

1: Interaction of pyridine nucleotide substrates with Escherichia coli dihydrodipicolinate reductase: thermodynamic and structural analysis of binary complexes. Reddy SG, Scapin G, Blanchard JS; Biochemistry 1996;35:13294-13302. PMID:8873595

2: Three-dimensional structure of Escherichia coli dihydrodipicolinate reductase in complex with NADH and the inhibitor 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylate. Scapin G, Reddy SG, Zheng R, Blanchard JS; Biochemistry 1997;36:15081-15088. PMID:9398235

3: Three-dimensional structure of Escherichia coli dihydrodipicolinate reductase. Scapin G, Blanchard JS, Sacchettini JC; Biochemistry 1995;34:3502-3512. PMID:7893645