double-psi beta-barrel fold of membrane-bound lytic murein transglycosylase A (MltA) and YuiC-like proteins
This family includes two subfamilies of conserved double-psi beta-barrel (DPBB) domain proteins, such as membrane-bound lytic murein transglycosylase A (MltA)-like proteins and YuiC-like proteins. MltA, also called murein hydrolase A, is a murein-degrading enzyme that may play a role in the recycling of muropeptides during cell elongation and/or cell division. It degrades murein glycan strands and insoluble, high-molecular weight murein sacculi. Bacterial lytic transglycosylases (LTs) are classified into 4 families: family 1 includes slt70 MltC-MltF, family 2 includes MltA, family 3 includes MltB, and family 4 includes proteins of bacteriophage origin. MltA is distinct from other bacterial LTs, which are similar in structure and sequence with a lysozyme-like fold. MltA is a kidney bean-shaped monomeric protein comprised of two domains separated by a large groove, where the peptidoglycan strand binds. Domain A is made up of an N-terminal and a C-terminal portion, which corresponds to a double-psi beta-barrel (DPBB) fold. Domain B also has a beta-barrel fold topology, but it is inserted within the linear sequence of domain A. YuiC is a Firmicute stationary phase survival (Sps) protein that closely resembles the Barwin-like endoglucanase beta barrel of MltA. It is a DPBB fold that consists of two interlocked "psi-structure" motifs related by a pseudo-2-fold axis and may be involved in substrate binding and catalysis.