Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Anti-virulent Disruption of Pathogenic Biofilms using Engineered Quorum-quenching Lactonases
Published on: January 1, 2016
Synthesis of bulky beta-lactams for inhibition of cell surface beta-lactamase activity
D N Karunaratne1, S Farmer, R E Hancock
1Department of Microbiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Abstract:
Procedures are described for the preparation of a series of compounds consisting of methicillin linked to beta-cyclodextrin through variable hydrophilic linkers. beta-Cyclodextrin was coupled to the antibiotic methicillin to prevent the antibiotic from permeating the outer membranes of bacteria. Stoichiometric oxidation of the beta-cyclodextrin with sodium metaperiodate provided a functional group for coupling to the linker. Methicillin was coupled to the linker via its carboxyl group. These compounds were tested for activity toward purified beta-lactamase. The length of the spacer arm between beta-cyclodextrin and methicillin was crucial in binding beta-lactamase and inhibiting activity. Compounds with longer spacers were effective inhibitors of beta-lactamase. We have deduced that the length of the spacer should be greater than 16 A for optimum inhibition of beta-lactamase.
Related Concept Videos
Antibiotic Selection
Bacterial Cell Wall
Production of Antibiotics
Production of Pharmaceuticals
Inhibitors of Gram-positive Cell Wall Synthesis
Inhibitors of Bacterial Protein Synthesis

