This domain is found at the N-terminal end of Mur ligases predominantly from proteobacteria, including UDP-N -acetylmuramoylalanine--D-glutamate ligase from Escherichia coli (MurD). Proteins in this family play a crucial role in the intracellular steps leading to the synthesis of bacterial peptidoglycan. MurD shows a three-domain topology, with the N-terminal (this entry) responsible for binding the UDP-precursor. This domain shows a Rossmann fold [1-6].

1: "Open" structures of MurD: domain movements and structural similarities with folylpolyglutamate synthetase. Bertrand JA, Fanchon E, Martin L, Chantalat L, Auger G, Blanot D, van Heijenoort J, Dideberg O; J Mol Biol. 2000;301:1257-1266. PMID:10966819

2: Structural and functional characterization of enantiomeric glutamic acid derivatives as potential transition state analogue inhibitors of MurD ligase. Kotnik M, Humljan J, Contreras-Martel C, Oblak M, Kristan K, Herve M, Blanot D, Urleb U, Gobec S, Dessen A, Solmajer T; J Mol Biol. 2007;370:107-115. PMID:17507028

3: Discovery of novel 5-benzylidenerhodanine and 5-benzylidenethiazolidine-2,4-dione inhibitors of MurD ligase. Zidar N, Tomasic T, Sink R, Rupnik V, Kovac A, Turk S, Patin D, Blanot D, Contreras Martel C, Dessen A, Muller Premru M, Zega A, Gobec S, Peterlin Masic L, Kikelj D; J Med Chem. 2010;53:6584-6594. PMID:20804196

4: Second-generation sulfonamide inhibitors of D-glutamic acid-adding enzyme: activity optimisation with conformationally rigid analogues of D-glutamic acid. Sosic I, Barreteau H, Simcic M, Sink R, Cesar J, Zega A, Grdadolnik SG, Contreras-Martel C, Dessen A, Amoroso A, Joris B, Blanot D, Gobec S; Eur J Med Chem. 2011;46:2880-2894. PMID:21524830

5: Dual Inhibitor of MurD and MurE Ligases from Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Tomasic T, Sink R, Zidar N, Fic A, Contreras-Martel C, Dessen A, Patin D, Blanot D, Muller-Premru M, Gobec S, Zega A, Kikelj D, Masic LP; ACS Med Chem Lett. 2012;3:626-630. PMID:24900523

6: Crystal structure of UDP-N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine:D-glutamate ligase from Escherichia coli. Bertrand JA, Auger G, Fanchon E, Martin L, Blanot D, van Heijenoort J, Dideberg O; EMBO J 1997;16:3416-3425. PMID:9218784