The Escherichia coli Dga (MurI) protein shares biological activity and structural domains with the Pediococcus pentosaceus glutamate racemase.

The Pediococcus pentosaceus glutamate racemase gene product complemented the D-glutamate auxotrophy of Escherichia coli WM335. Amino acid sequence analysis of the two proteins revealed 28% identity, primarily in six clusters scattered throughout the sequence. Further analyses indicated secondary structure similarities between the two proteins. These data support a recent report that the dga (murI) gene product is a glutamate racemase.