Crystallization and preliminary diffraction studies of GIM-1, a class B carbapenem-hydrolyzing β-lactamase

GIM-1 is a member of the class B carbapenemases (metallo-β-lactamases; MBLs) and has a wide spectrum of activity against carbapenems, penicillins and extended-spectrum cephalosporins, but not aztreonam. GIM-1 presents an enormous challenge to infection control, particularly in the eradication of Gram-negative pathogens including Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii and nonfermenters. There are presently few or no drugs in late-stage development for these pathogens and GIM-1 is a potential target for the development of antimicrobial agents against pathogens producing MBLs. In this study, GIM-1 was cloned, overexpressed and crystallized. The GIM-1 crystals diffracted to 1.4 Å resolution and belonged to the orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 38.5, b = 67.6, c = 72.8 Å. One molecule is present in the asymmetric unit, with a corresponding V(M) of 1.69 Å(3) Da(-1) and a solvent content of 27.1%.