The precursor of the Streptomyces R61 DD‐peptidase containing a C‐terminal extension is inactive

The Streptomyces R61 DD-peptidase gene encodes a 26-residue C-terminal extension which is not found in the mature protein. When the gene was expressed in Escherichia coli, the extension was not cleaved and the precursor protein was not enzymatically active. It also reacted with penicillins significantly more slowly than the mature protein. The introduction of a ‘stop’ codon after that corresponding to the C-terminal residue of the mature protein resulted in the production of an active protein in the periplasm of E. coli.