Characterization and properties of an LL-oligopeptidase from sporulating cells of Bacillus sphaericus.

An LL-oligopeptidase was characterized in the cell cytoplasm of sporulating Bacillus sphaericus 9602. Its activity showed a threefold increase throughout sporulation. The enzyme has lytic activity on various LL-dipeptides, especially on dipeptides with N-terminal L-alanine. Lytic activity was also found on some tripeptides and larger peptides which contain the sequence L-Ala-L-Ala. The role of this oligopeptidase in relation to sporulation may be to supply the cell with L-alanine for the biosynthesis of the peptide chains of the spore cortex.