[Enzymatic preparation of peptides of the general type: L-Ala-D-Glu-L-mesodiaminopimelyl (L)-D (140) Ala by transfer reactions between non radioactive corresponding peptides and D-alanine (140)].

Membrane bound LD-transpeptidase of Streptococcus faecalis ATCC 9790 was used to catalyse transpeptidation reactions between non radioactive peptide donors of the general type: L-Ala-D-Glu (L)meso-A2pm(L)-D-Ala and D-(14C) alanine acceptor. The presence of one or two amide residues on the carboxyl groups of glutamic acid and meso-diaminopimelic acid increases the transfer reactions and subsequently the yield in radioactive peptides L-Ala-D-Glu (L)meso-A2pm(L)-D-(14C) Ala.