A Novel L-Amino Acid Ligase from Bacillus licheniformis

l -Amino acid α-ligase (EC 6.3.2.28) catalyzed formation of α-peptide bond in unprotected l -amino acids in an ATP-dependent manner. BL00235 gene in Bacillus licheniformis NBRC12200 coded as a new l -amino acid ligase. BL00235 substrate specificity was strict; only methionine or leucine was acceptable as dipeptide N-terminal residues.