Purification of beta-lactamases and enzyme kinetic studies on aztreonam

Standard beta-lactamases K1, P99, TEM-1, SHV-1 and beta-lactamase K-CAZ purified using FPLC through ion-exchange chromatography and filtration chromatography, were identified by determination of isoelectric points, molecular weights and substrate profiles. The results showed that the beta-lactamase stability of domestic aztreonam was very similar to that of cefotaxime, ceftazidime and much better than that of cefoperazone. Aztreonam showed a high affinity to chromosomal-mediated cephalosporinase P99, its Ki for inhibition of P99 with cephaloridine as substrate was 0.0159 microns. Aztreonam and the three third generation cephalosporins tested were not stable to beta-lactamase K-CAZ, which hydrolysed them in different degrees.