Enzymatic and immunological characterization of a new cephalosporinase from Enterobacter aerogenes

A hospital strain of Enterobacter aerogenes (MULB 250) isolated from a urinary tract infection was found to be cephalosporin and ampicillin resistant and carbenicillin susceptible. The beta-lactamase produced by this strain was extracted and purified by means of affinity chromatography, using a cephalosporin C-bound Sepharose 4B column. The purified enzyme was tested for hydrolysis of penicillin and various cephalosporins. The K(m) value is 11.8 muM for benzyl penicillin and 130 muM for cephalosporin C. The isoelectric point of the enzyme is 9.3, and its molecular weight is 29,500 +/- 1,000. Rabbit antiserum obtained against this MULB 250 beta-lactamase showed no cross-reaction with other penicillinases or cephalosporinases in neutralization tests. Comparisons of results obtained with other beta-lactamases, particularly from Enterobacter cloacae P99, indicate that the Enterobacter MULB 250 enzyme presents a typical cephalosporinase profile. As far as we know, this type of enzyme is relatively rare.