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Published on: May 15, 2012

ENZYMATIC DEACYLATION OF S35-BENZYLPENICILLIN

D L PRUESS, M J JOHNSON

    Journal of Bacteriology
    |August 1, 1965
    PubMed

    Insights

    Escherichia coli and Micrococcus roseus enzymes deacylated S(35)-benzylpenicillin, penicilloic acid, and penilloic acid. Penicillin was deacylated most rapidly, while penilloic acid was the slowest substrate.

    Area of Science:

    • Microbiology
    • Enzymology

    Background:

    • Penicillin's chemical structure and degradation pathways are crucial for understanding its stability and efficacy.
    • Enzymatic modification of antibiotics is a key area in microbial metabolism research.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the enzymatic deacylation of S(35)-benzylpenicillin and its degradation products by bacterial cell suspensions.
    • To compare the deacylation rates of different penicillin-related compounds by Escherichia coli and Micrococcus roseus.

    Main Methods:

    • Utilized cell suspensions of Escherichia coli and Micrococcus roseus.
    • Incubated cell suspensions with S(35)-benzylpenicillin, penicilloic acid, and penilloic acid to measure deacylation.
    • Assessed the location and potential cofactor requirements of the deacylase activity in Micrococcus roseus.

    Main Results:

    • Both bacterial cultures demonstrated enzymatic deacylation activity against the tested compounds.
    • Penicillin exhibited the highest rate of deacylation, followed by penicilloic acid, with penilloic acid showing the slowest deacylation rate.
    • The deacylase activity in Micrococcus roseus targeting penicilloic acid was found to be cell-bound and potentially dependent on a metal ion.

    Conclusions:

    • Escherichia coli and Micrococcus roseus possess enzymes capable of deacylating benzylpenicillin and its related acids.
    • The substrate specificity of these deacylases favors penicillin over its degradation products.
    • Deacylase activity in M. roseus is likely a cell-associated process requiring specific conditions, possibly including metal ion cofactors.
    Keywords:
    ACETONEBUFFERSCENTRIFUGATIONCHEMISTRYCHROMATOGRAPHYCULTURE MEDIAESCHERICHIA COLIEXPERIMENTAL LAB STUDYFERMENTATIONHYDROGEN-ION CONCENTRATIONMETABOLISMMICROCOCCUSPENICILLIN GPHARMACOLOGYPHENYLACETATESRADIOMETRYSULFUR ISOTOPES

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