The active site of the P99 beta-lactamase from Enterobacter cloacae

Labelling the beta-lactamase of Enterobacter cloacae P99 with a poor substrate or a mechanism-based inactivator points to an active-site serine residue in a sequence closely resembling that of the ampC beta-lactamase. These results establish the P99 enzyme as a class-C beta-lactamase, and the concurrence of the two approaches helps to confirm the reliability of determining active-site sequences with the aid of mechanism-based inactivators.