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In previous studies, several amino acids of the active site of class A beta-lactamases have been modified by site-directed mutagenesis. On the basis of the catalytic mechanism proposed for the Streptomyces albus G beta-lactamase [Lamotte-Brasseur, Dive, Dideberg, Charlier, Frère & Ghuysen (1991) Biochem. J. 279, 213-221], the influence that these mutations exert on the hydrogen-bonding network of the active site has been analysed by molecular mechanics. The results satisfactorily explain the effects of the mutations on the kinetic parameters of the enzyme's activity towards a set of substrates. The present study also shows that, upon binding a properly structured beta-lactam compound, the impaired cavity of a mutant enzyme can readopt a functional hydrogen-bonding-network configuration.

The interaction between various penicillins and cephalosporins the carboxylate group of which at C-3 or C-4 had been esterified or amidated and different penicillin-recognizing enzymes was studied. In general, our findings reinforced the common assumption that an anionic group at that position is necessary for the effective acylation of these enzymes. However, the relative activities of the modified beta-lactams as inactivators of the Streptomyces R61 DD-peptidase or as substrates of the Bacillus licheniformis, Streptomyces albus G and Enterobacter cloacae beta-lactamases did not fit a general scheme in which the intrinsic electronic and geometric properties of the beta-lactam compounds would be sufficient to explain their substrate or inactivator properties towards the various types of enzymes investigated.

Several types of active-site-directed inactivators (inhibitors) of the Zn2+-containing D-alanyl-D-alanine-cleaving carboxypeptidase were tested. (i) Among the heavy-atom-containing compounds examined, K2Pt(C2O4)2 inactivates the enzyme with a second-order rate constant of about 6 X 10(-2)M-1 X S-1 and has only one binding site located close to the Zn2+ cofactor within the enzyme active site. (ii) Several compounds possessing both a C-terminal carboxylate function and, at the other end of the molecule, a thiol, hydroxamate or carboxylate function were also examined. 3-Mercaptopropionate (racemic) and 3-mercaptoisobutyrate (L-isomer) inhibit the enzyme competitively with a Ki value of 5 X 10 X 10(-9)M. (iii) Classical beta-lactam compounds have a very weak inhibitory potency. Depending on the structure of the compounds, enzyme inhibition may be competitive (and binding occurs to the active site) or non-competitive (and binding causes disruption of the protein crystal lattice). (iv) 6-beta-Iodopenicillanate inactivates the enzyme in a complex way. At high beta-lactam concentrations, the pseudo-first-order rate constant of enzyme inactivation has a limit value of 7 X 10(-4)S-1 X 6-beta-Iodopenicillanate binds to the active site just in front of the Zn2+ cofactor and superimposes histidine-190, suggesting that permanent enzyme inactivation is by reaction with this latter residue.