Ala-D-γ-Glu-Lys-D-Ala-D-Ala is the pentapeptide tail of the peptidoglycan precursor UDPMurNAc-l-Ala-γ-d-Glu-l-Lys(Gly)(5)-d-Ala-d-Ala.Ala-D-γ-Glu-Lys-D-Ala-D-Ala is used to study the role of this peptide stem in peptidoglycan biosynthesis, degradation and function.