Converts L-lysine to L-pipecolate, which is incorporated into multiple secondary metabolite products, including rapamycin, tobulysin, virginiamycin and pristinamycin. L-lysine = L-pipecolate + NH4(+) Inhibited by nipecotic acid and thiazolidine-2-carboxylic acid. kcat is 0.61 min(-1) with L-lysine as substrate. Antibiotic biosynthesis. Cells do not produce significant amounts of rapamycin. Cells supplemented by L-pipecolate restore levels of rapamycin. Belongs to the ornithine cyclodeaminase/mu-crystallin family.