Activity of penicillin-acylase-producing bacteria against alpha-aminobenzylpenicillins

A method has been developed for the chemical analysis of individual alpha-aminobenzylpenicillin derivatives. This analytical procedure may conveniently be used to determine whether microorganisms possess penicillin acylases which show considerable activity against alpha-aminobenzylpenicillin derivatives. The method is not sufficiently sensitive to determine low levels of enzyme activity. Organisms known to produce penicillin acylases which are active against benzyl- or phenoxymethylpenicillin showed variable responses to alpha-aminobenzylpenicillin substrates. A significant difference in activity profile was noted between the intracellular enzyme of Escherichia coli and the extracellular enzyme of Bacillus megaterium.