Catalyzes the formation of N-succinyl-2-amino-6-oxo-L-pimelate from succinyl-CoA and tetrahydrodipicolinate, a key step in lysine biosynthesis via diaminopimelate pathway. (S)-2,3,4,5-tetrahydrodipicolinate + H2O + succinyl-CoA = (S)-2-succinylamino-6-oxoheptanedioate + CoA Inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide, p-chloromercuriphenyl sulfonate, cobalt and copper ions. kcat is 2600 min(-1). Optimum pH is 8.2. Amino-acid biosynthesis; L-lysine biosynthesis via DAP pathway; LL-2,6-diaminopimelate from (S)-tetrahydrodipicolinate (succinylase route): step 1/3. Was originally thought to be a homodimer, but is rather a homotrimer as shown in orthologs. Belongs to the transferase hexapeptide repeat family.