Dihydropicolinate synthase is the key enzyme in lysine biosynthesis
via the diaminopimelate pathway of prokaryotes, some phycomycetes
and higher plants. The enzyme catalyses the condensation of
L-aspartate-beta- semialdehyde and pyruvate to dihydropicolinic
acid via a ping-pong mechanism in which pyruvate binds to the
enzyme by forming a Schiff base with a lysine residue.
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