Biochemical properties of inducible β-lactamases produced from Xanthomonas maltophilia

R. Paton, R.S. Miles, S.G.B. Amyes

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

Four different β-lactamases have been found in several strains of Xanthomonas maltophilia isolated from blood cultures during 1984 to 1991 at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. One was a metallo-β-lactamase with predominantly penicillinase activity and an isoelectric point of 6.8. Its molecular size as determined by gel filtration was 96 kDa but was only 26 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), suggesting a tetramer of four equal subunits. The enzyme hydrolyzed all classes of β-lactams except the monobactam aztreonam. This enzyme was not inhibited by potassium clavulanate or BRL 42715 but was inhibited by p- chloromercuribenzoate, mercuric chloride, and EDTA. The β-lactamase was unstable in 50 mM sodium phosphate buffer (pH 8.0) but stable in 50 mM Tris HCl (pH 8.0). The other β-lactamases focused as a series of different isoelectric points, ranging from pI 5.2 to 6.6. Together, these enzymes exhibited a broad spectrum of activity, hydrolyzing most classes of β- lactams but not imipenem or aztreonam. Their molecular size was 48 kDa by Sephadex gel filtration and 24 kDa by SDS-PAGE, indicating that they were enzymes consisting of two equal subunits. They were inhibited by p- chloromercuribenzoate, mercuric chloride, potassium clavulanate, and BRL 42715 but not EDTA. This study demonstrated that X. maltophilia produces more than just the L1 and L2 β-lactamases.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2143-2149
Number of pages7
JournalAntimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
Volume38
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 1994

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Biochemical properties of inducible β-lactamases produced from Xanthomonas maltophilia'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this