An endopeptidase is described which shows specificity for cleavage of a LPXTG (SEQ ID NO: 1) motif found in the cell membranes of gram positive bacteria, having an apparent molecular weight of 14,000 daltons, having a pH optimum of about 7.5 to 10, being salt sensitive, being heavily glycosylated, rich in alanine, lacking aromatic amino acids, having a K.sub.m of 0.26 mM and having a backbone comprised of about 30% unknown amino acids, and containing carbohydrates that are essential for its activity. Methods of use and pharmaceutical compositions of this inhibitor are described.