Influence of methoxy-substitution of beta-lactam compounds on the interaction with various beta-lactamases

The interaction of 6 alpha-(temocillin) and 7 alpha-methoxy substituted (cefoxitin) beta-lactam compounds with various beta-lactamases was studied employing enzyme kinetics and compared to that of unsubstituted compounds. Both chromosomally mediated enzymes from Enterobacter cloacae and Citrobacter freundii were competitively inhibited by the methoxy-substituted compounds. Higher concentrations of cefoxitin caused a competitive inhibition of the plasmid-mediated Tem-1 enzyme, whereas temocillin led to a non-competitive inhibition of the Tem-1 enzyme. These results indicate that the discrepancies in the interaction on the above mentioned compounds have to be attributed to the different molecular structure of the beta-lactam nucleus. Moreover, no predictions can be made on the basis of an analogy between 6 alpha-methoxy-penams and 7 alpha-methoxy cephems.