Two sets of paralogous genes encode the enzymes involved in the early stages of clavulanic acid and clavam metabolite biosynthesis in Streptomyces clavuligerus.
Transferases;
Transferring alkyl or aryl groups, other than methyl groups;
Transferring alkyl or aryl groups, other than methyl groups (only sub-subclass identified to date)
The enzyme requires thiamine diphosphate and catalyses the first step in the clavulanic-acid-biosynthesis pathway. The 2-hydroxy-3-oxo group transferred from glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate is isomerized during transfer to form the 2-carboxyethyl group.