Beta-lactamase of Bacillus licheniformis 749/C at 2 A resolution

Effect of side-chain amide thionation on turnover of beta-lactam substrates by beta-lactamases. Further evidence on the question of side-chain hydrogen-bonding in catalysis

Two side-chain-thionated beta-lactams, a penicillin and a cephalosporin, have been prepared and found to be not significantly poorer as substrates of typical serine (classes A and C) beta-lactamases than are their oxo analogues. This result is interpreted to mean that any hydrogen-bonding site on these enzymes for the beta-lactam side-chain amide carbonyl group must be flexible and is more likely to be a passive rather than active or essential feature of the active site. Previously, data from crystal structures and site-directed mutagenesis had suggested that the side chain of Asn-132 of class-A beta-lactamases, a component of the conserved SDN loop, forms a hydrogen bond with the side-chain carbonyl of the beta-lactam substrate and may provide significant transition-state stabilization during catalysis. The thionocephalosporin was also equally as good as its oxo analogue as a substrate of the class-B beta-lactamase II of Bacillus cereus and not significantly less effective as an inhibitor of the Streptomyces R61 DD-peptidase; a tight hydrogen-bond donor site for the beta-lactam side-chain amide is apparently not present in these enzymes either.

Probing beta-lactamase structure and function using random replacement mutagenesis

A new analytical mutagenesis technique is described that involves randomizing the DNA sequence of a short stretch of a gene (3-6 codons) and determining the percentage of all possible random sequences that produce a functional protein. A low percentage of functional random sequences in a complete library of random substitutions indicates that the region mutagenized is important for the structure and/or function of the protein. Repeating the mutagenesis over many regions throughout a protein gives a global perspective of which amino acid sequences in a protein are critical. We applied this method to 66 codons of the gene encoding TEM-1 beta-lactamase in 19 separate experiments. We found that TEM-1 beta-lactamase is extremely tolerant of amino acid substitutions: on average, 44% of all mutants with random substitutions function and 20% of the substitutions are expressed, secreted, and fold well enough to function at levels similar to those for the wild-type enzyme. We also found a few exceptional regions where only a few random sequences function. Examination of the X-ray structures of homologous beta-lactamases indicates that the regions most sensitive to substitution are in the vicinity of the active site pocket or buried in the hydrophobic core of the protein. DNA sequence analysis of functional random sequences has been used to obtain more detailed information about the amino acid sequence requirements for several regions and this information has been compared to sequence conservation among several related beta-lactamases.

Identification of amino acid substitutions that alter the substrate specificity of TEM-1 beta-lactamase

TEM-1 beta-lactamase is the most prevalent plasmid-mediated beta-lactamase in gram-negative bacteria. Recently, TEM beta-lactamase variants with amino acid substitutions in the active-site pocket of the enzyme have been identified in natural isolates with increased resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporins. To identify other amino acid substitutions that alter the activity of TEM-1 towards extended-spectrum cephalosporins, we probed regions around the active-site pocket by random-replacement mutagenesis. This mutagenesis technique involves randomizing the DNA sequence of three to six codons in the blaTEM-1 gene to form a library containing all or nearly all of the possible substitutions for the region randomized. In total, 20 different residue positions that had been randomized were screened for amino acid substitutions that increased enzyme activity towards the extended-spectrum cephalosporin cefotaxime. Substitutions at positions 104, 168, and 238 in the TEM-1 beta-lactamase that resulted in increased enzyme activity towards extended-spectrum cephalosporins were found. In addition, small deletions in the loop containing residues 166 to 170 drastically altered the substrate specificity of the enzyme by increasing activity towards extended-spectrum cephalosporins while virtually eliminating activity towards ampicillin.

Penicillin-binding protein 2x of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Expression in Escherichia coli and purification of a soluble enzymatically active derivative

A 2.5-kb DNA fragment including the structural gene coding for the penicillin-binding protein 2x (PBP 2x) of Streptococcus pneumoniae has been cloned into the vector pJDC9 and expressed in Escherichia coli. Mapping of RNA polymerase binding sites by electron microscopy indicated that the pbpX promoter is well recognized by the E. coli enzyme. However, high-level expression occurred mainly under the control of the lac promoter upstream of the pJDC9 multiple cloning site. After induction with isopropyl beta-d-thiogalactopyranoside, PBP 2x was expressed as one of the major cellular proteins. PBP 2x produced in E. coli corresponded to the pneumococcal PBP 2x in terms of electrophoretic mobility, fractionation with the cytoplasmic membrane, and penicillin-binding capacity. Deletion of 30 hydrophobic N-terminal amino acid residues at positions 19-48 resulted in high-level expression of a cytoplasmic, soluble PBP 2x derivative (PBP 2x*) which still retained full beta-lactam-binding activity. A two-step procedure involving dye affinity chromatography was established for obtaining large amounts of highly purified enzymatically active PBP 2x*.

Close amino acid sequence relationship between the new plasmid-mediated extended-spectrum beta-lactamase MEN-1 and chromosomally encoded enzymes of Klebsiella oxytoca

Isolated from an Escherichia coli strain MEN-1 is a plasmid-mediated beta-lactamase that confers resistance to methoxy imino third-generation cephalosporins. The protein purified to homogeneity was digested by trypsin, chymotrypsin and endoproteinase Asp-N. Amino acid sequence determinations of the resulting peptides gave rise to the alignment of the 263 residues of the beta-lactamase. From amino acid sequence comparison MEN-1 was found to share more than 72% identity with the chromosomally mediated beta-lactamases of Klebsiella oxytoca. Therefore, MEN-1 is the first transferable extended-spectrum beta-lactamase which is not directly derived from the widespread TEMs or SHV-1 penicillinases with which it presents less than 39% identity.

Site-directed mutagenesis of the Streptomyces R61 DD-peptidase. Catalytic function of the conserved residues around the active site and a comparison with class-A and class-C beta-lactamases

The importance of various residues in the Streptomyces R61 penicillin-sensitive DD-peptidase has been assessed by site-directed mutagenesis. The replacement of the active Ser62 by a Cys residue yielded an inactive protein which was also unable to recognize penicillin. The activity of the Lys65----Arg mutant with the peptide and thiolester substrates was decreased 100-200-fold and the rate of penicillin inactivation was decreased 20,000-fold or more. The mutant thus behaved as a poor, but penicillin-resistant, DD-peptidase. The other studied mutations, the mutations Phe58----Leu, Tyr90----Asn, Thr101----Asn, Phe164----Ala, Asp225----Glu and Asp225----Asn had little influence on the catalytic and penicillin-binding properties. The Asp225 mutants did not exhibit an increased sensitivity to cefotaxime. The Phe164----Ala mutant was significantly more unstable than the wild-type enzyme.

Nucleotide sequences of genes encoding penicillin-binding proteins from Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus oralis with high homology to Escherichia coli penicillin-binding proteins 1a and 1b

The nucleotide sequence of a 3,378-bp DNA fragment of Streptococcus pneumoniae that included the structural gene for penicillin-binding protein (PBP) 1a (ponA), which encodes 719 amino acids, was determined. Homologous DNA fragments from an S. oralis strain were amplified with ponA-specific oligonucleotides. The 2,524-bp S. oralis sequence contained the coding region for the first 636 amino acids of a PBP. The coding sequence differed by 437 nucleotides (27%) and one additional triplet, resulting in 87 amino acid substitutions (14%), from S. pneumoniae PBP 1a. Both PBPs are highly homologous to bifunctional high-M(r) Escherichia coli PBPs 1a and 1b.

Mechanism of inhibition of the class C beta-lactamase of Enterobacter cloacae P99 by phosphonate monoesters

The class C serine beta-lactamase of Enterobacter cloacae P99 was inhibited by a series of aryl methylphosphonate monoester monoanions. The effectiveness of these inhibitors was promoted by an acylamido substituent on the methyl group and a good leaving group at phosphorus. The former preference suggests that noncovalent interaction of these inhibitors with the enzyme resembles that of substrates, while the latter suggests that nucleophilic displacement at phosphorus occurs as part of the inhibition mechanism. The truth of the latter proposition was confirmed by observation of release of 1 equiv of phenol concomitant with inhibition and of the presence of an equivalent amount of 14C-label on the enzyme after inhibition by a 14C-labeled phosphonate. The hydrolytically inert nature of the enzyme-inhibitor adduct, and its 31P chemical shift, suggested that O-phosphonylation of the enzyme had occurred. Although, by analogy with substrates, one might expect that the hydroxyl of the active site serine residue would be covalently modified by these inhibitors, successive alkali and acid treatment of the enzyme-inhibitor adduct generated no pyruvate. Instead, 1 equiv of lysinoalanine was found. This product was rationalized to arise through intramolecular capture by an adjacent lysine amine group of the dehydroalanine residue produced by alkali treatment of an O-phosphonylated serine residue. One equivalent of lysinoalanine was also produced by alkali treatment of the enzyme that had been inhibited by 6 beta-bromopenicillanic acid, a mechanism-based inhibitor known to acylate the hydroxyl group of the active site serine residue. It is therefore likely that the aryl phosphonates phosphonylate this residue. These compounds should be useful as beta-lactamase active site titrants and as sources of fresh insight into the chemical properties of the active site. The significant mechanistic features of the inhibition, in particular its strong leaving group dependence and the distinctive ability of the beta-lactamase active site to stabilize a dianionic transition state containing a pentacoordinated phosphorus, are discussed with respect to the active site structure. The comparison with phosph(or/on)yl inhibitors of serine proteinases is made, and the mechanism-based features of inhibition of serine hydrolases by phosph(on)ates are noted.

Phylogeny of LCR-1 and OXA-5 with class A and class D beta-lactamases

The nucleotide sequences of blaLCR-1 and blaOXA-5 beta-lactamase genes have been determined. Polypeptide products of 260 and 267 amino acids with estimated molecular masses of 27 120 Da and 27,387 Da were obtained for the mature form of LCR-1 and OXA-5 proteins. A progressive alignment was used to evaluate the extent of identity between LCR-1 and OXA-5 with 29 other beta-lactamase amino acid sequences. The data showed that both belong to class D. We identified amino acids conserved in 24 positions for class A beta-lactamases and in 28 positions for five class D enzymes. The structural similarities between class A and class D beta-lactamases are more extensive than indicated by earlier biochemical studies with overall 16% identity between both classes. From the alignment, dendograms were constructed with a distance-matrix and parsimony methods which defined three major groups of proteins subdivided into clusters giving insight on beta-lactamase phylogeny and evolution.

Mutations altering substrate specificity in OHIO-1, and SHV-1 family beta-lactamase

The OHIO-1 beta-lactamase does not normally hydrolyse oxyimino-beta-lactam substrates like cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime or aztreonam. We were able to select spontaneous mutants of an OHIO-1-bearing strain of Escherichia coli using the antibiotic substrates listed above by enrichment methods of frequencies of 10(-8)-10(-10) for all antibiotics except ceftazidime (frequency less than 10(-10)). Most mutants with increased resistance to the other beta-lactams were also more resistant to ceftazidime. Mutations identified by DNA sequencing included a Gly238----Ser238 substitution identical with the SHV-2 mutation previously described, cysteine and valine substitutions at the identical site, and a Gly242----Cys242 substitution. The Cys238 and Cys242 mutant enzymes had less affinity for aztreonam than had the other mutant enzymes. Hydrolysis of cefotaxime, but not cephaloridine, by the cysteine-substituted enzymes was inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoate. The mutant enzymes had, in general, greater affinity for the mechanism-based inhibitors sulbactam, clavulanic acid and tazobactam. These results suggest two non-mutually exclusive hypotheses for the structural role of substitutions in this area of the enzyme. Either potential hydrogen-bond donors, such as serine and cysteine, interact directly with the beta-lactam molecules, or the steric bulk of these substitutions distorts the beta-pleated sheet such that the beta-lactam is held in a position favourable for stable binding and catalysis. Finally, our data raise questions about a strategy relying on oligonucleotide-probe technology to detect such mutations, because of the variety of substitutions that give rise to similar phenotypes.

Point mutations of two arginine residues in the Streptomyces R61 DD-peptidase

Incubation of the exocellular DD-carboxypeptidase/transpeptidase of Streptomyces R61 with phenylglyoxal resulted in a time-dependent decrease in the enzyme activity. This inactivation was demonstrated to be due to modification of the Arg-99 side chain. In consequence, the role of that residue was investigated by site-directed mutagenesis. Mutation of Arg-99 into leucine appeared to be highly detrimental to enzyme stability, reflecting a determining structural role for this residue. The conserved Arg-103 residue was also substituted by using site-directed mutagenesis. The modification to a serine residue yielded a stable enzyme, the catalytic properties of which were similar to those of the wild-type enzyme. Thus Arg-103, although strictly conserved or replaced by a lysine residue in most of the active-site penicillin-recognizing proteins, did not appear to fulfil any essential role in either the enzyme activity or structure.

Beta-lactamase TEM1 of E. coli. Crystal structure determination at 2.5 A resolution

The crystal structure of beta-lactamase TEM1 from E. coli has been solved to 2.5 A resolution by X-ray diffraction methods and refined to a crystallographic R-factor of 22.7%. The structure was determined by multiple isomorphous replacement using four heavy atom derivatives. The solution from molecular replacement, using a polyalanine model constructed from the C alpha coordinates of S. Aureus PCl enzyme, provided a set of phases used for heavy atom derivatives analysis. The E. coli beta-lactamase TEM1 is made up of two domains whose topology is similar to that of the PCl enzyme. However, global superposition of the two proteins shows significant differences.

Streptomyces albus G serine beta-lactamase. Probing of the catalytic mechanism via molecular modelling of mutant enzymes

In previous studies, several amino acids of the active site of class A beta-lactamases have been modified by site-directed mutagenesis. On the basis of the catalytic mechanism proposed for the Streptomyces albus G beta-lactamase [Lamotte-Brasseur, Dive, Dideberg, Charlier, Frère & Ghuysen (1991) Biochem. J. 279, 213-221], the influence that these mutations exert on the hydrogen-bonding network of the active site has been analysed by molecular mechanics. The results satisfactorily explain the effects of the mutations on the kinetic parameters of the enzyme's activity towards a set of substrates. The present study also shows that, upon binding a properly structured beta-lactam compound, the impaired cavity of a mutant enzyme can readopt a functional hydrogen-bonding-network configuration.

Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic data on Escherichia coli TEM1 beta-lactamase

Two crystal forms of Gram- bacteria TEM beta-lactamase have been obtained. The tetragonal form has a very large unit cell and diffracts to 3.0 A resolution. Orthorhombic crystals, grown using ammonium sulfate and a small amount of acetone as precipitating agents, belong to space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with cell parameters a = 43.1 A, b = 64.4 A, c = 91.2 A and diffract to 1.7 A resolution. A seeding procedure has been designed that ensures reproducibility of the crystal properties. Molecular replacement, using a model reconstructed from the C alpha co-ordinates from Staphylococcus aureus PC1 beta-lactamase, gives a solution that satisfies crystal packing constraints.

Comparison of the sequences of class A beta-lactamases and of the secondary structure elements of penicillin-recognizing proteins

The sequences of class A beta-lactamases were compared. Four main groups of enzymes were distinguished: those from the gram-negative organisms and bacilli and two distinct groups of Streptomyces spp. The Staphylococcus aureus PC1 enzyme, although somewhat closer to the enzyme from the Bacillus group, did not belong to any of the groups of beta-lactamases. The similarities between the secondary structure elements of these enzymes and those of the class C beta-lactamases and of the Streptomyces sp. strain R61 DD-peptidase were also analyzed and tentatively extended to the class D beta-lactamases. A unified nomenclature of secondary structure elements is proposed for all the penicillin-recognizing enzymes.

Five independent combinations of mutations can result in low-affinity penicillin-binding protein 2x of Streptococcus pneumoniae

Penicillin-binding protein 2x (PBP 2x) of Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of the high-molecular-weight PBPs involved in the development of intrinsic beta-lactam resistance. Point mutations in the PBP 2x genes (pbpX) have now been characterized in five independent spontaneous laboratory mutants in order to identify protein regions which are important for interaction with beta-lactam antibiotics. All mutant genes contained two to four mutations resulting in amino acid substitutions within the penicillin-binding domain of PBP 2x, and none of the mutants carried an identical set of mutations. For one particular mutant, C606, carrying four mutations in pbpX, the mutations at positions 601 and 597 conferred first- and second-level resistance when introduced into the susceptible parent strain S. pneumoniae R6. However, the other two mutations, at amino acid positions 289 and 422, which were originally selected at the fifth and sixth isolation steps, did not contribute at all to resistance in similar experiments. This suggests that they are phenotypically expressed only in combination with mutations in other genes. Three PBP 2x regions were mutated in from two to all four mutants carrying a low-affinity PBP 2x. However, in a fifth mutant containing a PBP 2x with apparent zero affinity for beta-lactams, the three mutations in pbpX mapped at entirely different positions. This demonstrates that different mutational pathways exist for remodeling this PBP during resistance development.

Mechanism of acyl transfer by the class A serine beta-lactamase of Streptomyces albus G

Optimization by energy minimization of stable complexes occurring along the pathway of hydrolysis of benzylpenicillin and cephalosporin C by the Streptomyces albus G beta-lactamase has highlighted a proton shuttle that may explain the catalytic mechanism of the beta-lactamases of class A. Five residues, S70, S130, N132, T235 and A237, are involved in ligand binding. The gamma-OH group of T235 and, in the case of benzylpenicillin, the gamma-OH group of S130 interact with the carboxylate group, on one side of the ligand molecule. The side-chain NH2 group of N132 and the carbonyl backbone of A237 interact with the exocyclic CONH amide bond, on the other side of the ligand. The backbone NH groups of S70 and A237 polarize the carbonyl group of the scissile beta-lactam amide bond. Four residues, S70, K73, S130 and E166, and two water molecules, W1 and W2, perform hydrolysis of the bound beta-lactam compound. E166, via W1, abstracts the proton from the gamma-OH group of S70. While losing its proton, the O-gamma atom of S70 attacks the carbonyl carbon atom of the beta-lactam ring and, concomitantly, the proton is delivered back to the adjacent nitrogen atom via W2, K73 and S130, thus achieving formation of the acyl-enzyme. Subsequently, E166 abstracts a proton from W1. While losing its proton, W1 attacks the carbonyl carbon atom of the S70 ester-linked acyl-enzyme and, concomitantly, re-entry of a water molecule W'1 replacing W1 allows E166 to deliver the proton back to the same carbonyl carbon atom, thus achieving hydrolysis of the beta-lactam compound and enzyme recovery. The model well explains the differences found in the kcat. values for hydrolysis of benzylpenicillin and cephalosporin C by the Streptomyces albus G beta-lactamase. It also explains the effects caused by site-directed mutagenesis of the Bacillus cereus beta-lactamase I [Gibson, Christensen & Waley (1990) Biochem J. 272, 613-619].

Gly-238-Ser substitution changes the substrate specificity of the SHV class A beta-lactamases

The SHV-type beta-lactamase SHV-2A is related to SHV-1 by a Gly-238-Ser replacement. Strains carrying SHV-2A are resistant to the third generation cephems cefotaxime and ceftizoxime, whereas those that carry SHV-1 are sensitive to these drugs. We present a kinetic analysis of a SHV-1 and SHV-2A enzymes, with the goal of gaining insight into the role of residue 238 in hydrolyzing cefotaxime and ceftizoxime. SHV-2A shows altered kinetic properties for a number of other cephems that also have heterocyclic side chains at the amino position of the 7-aminocephalosporanic acid nucleus (R1 side chain), including a significantly higher kcat/Km than does SHV-1 for cephaloridine, cephalothin, and cefotiam. Two cephems with straight chain R1 substitutions, cephalosporin C and cephacetrile, are not hydrolyzed more efficiently by SHV-2A. These results indicate that the Ser-238-Gly substitution increases the affinity toward cephems with a heterocyclic ring in the R1 side chain. In addition, the data for ampicillin and benzylpenicillin show that addition of a nitrogen to the second carbon of the R1 side chain of a penem results in a lower kcat/Km for SHV-2A relative to SHV-1. These data strongly suggest that the previously proposed hydrogen bond formation between Ser-238 and the second carbon nitrogen of cefotaxime is not an important factor in hydrolysis by SHV-2A. We propose that the Gly-238 to Ser-238 replacement in SHV-2A has altered the hydrophobic pocket so that it can better accommodate cephems with bulky R1 side chains.

Beta-lactamase of Bacillus licheniformis 749/C. Refinement at 2 A resolution and analysis of hydration

The crystallographic and molecular structure of the class A beta-lactamase (penicillinase) of Bacillus licheniformis 749/C has been refined with X-ray diffraction data to 2 A resolution. For the 27,330 data with F greater than or equal to 3 sigma(F), the R factor is 0.15; for all 30,090 data, R is 0.16. The estimated co-ordinate error is 0.15 A. In the final model, the deviation of covalent bonds and angles from ideality is 0.012 A and 2.2 degrees, respectively. The model includes two molecules of 29,500 daltons each in the asymmetric unit of space group P2(1), 484 water molecules and two tetrahedral buffer anions. Overlay of the two protein molecules results in a root-mean-square difference of 0.17 A and 0.41 A for alpha-carbon atoms and for all atoms, respectively. Twenty-six water molecules fall within 0.25 A of matching water molecules associated with the second protein molecule. The reactive Ser70 is on a turn of 3(10) helix at the N terminus of a longer alpha-helix (72-83). The penicillin-binding site near this helix contains at least seven water molecules. Upon penicillin entry, a water molecule in the oxyanion hole, hydrogen-bonded between the N terminus of helix (80-83) and beta-strand (230-238), would be displaced by the oxygen atom of the beta-lactam carbonyl group. An unexpelled molecule of water is proposed to be the catalytic water required for penicillin hydrolysis. The water is hydrogen-bonded to Glu166, a conserved residue in all beta-lactamases, and it lies 3 A from the alpha-face of a previously modeled penicillin. The position of the water-Glu166 pair is stabilized in the active site by a cis peptide bond at Pro167.

Phosphonate monoester inhibitors of class A beta-lactamases

Phosphonate monoesters with the general structure: [formula: see text] are inhibitors of representative class A and class C beta-lactamases. This result extends the range of this type of inhibitor to the class A enzymes. Compounds where X is an electron-withdrawing substituent are better inhibitors than the unsubstituted analogue (X = H), and enzyme inhibition is concerted with stoichiometric release of the substituted phenol. Slow turnover of the phosphonates also occurs. These observations support the proposition that the mechanism of action of these inhibitors involves phosphorylation of the beta-lactamase active site. The inhibitory ability of these phosphonates suggests that the beta-lactamase active site is very effective at stabilizing negatively charged transition states. One of the compounds described also inactivated the Streptomyces R61 D-alanyl-D-alanine carboxypeptidase/transpeptidase.

A gene (prsA) of Bacillus subtilis involved in a novel, late stage of protein export

A gene locus of Bacillus subtilis identified by mutations (prs) conferring a defect in protein secretion was cloned from a lambdaGEM-11 expression library. The sites of three closely linked prs mutations (prs-3, prs-29 and prs-40) were found to reside in a 5.3 kb DNA fragment, which also complemented the secretion defect in prs-3 and prs-29 mutants. Partial sequencing of the fragment showed that these three mutations affect one distinct gene (prsA) encoding a putative protein of 292 amino acids (33 kDa). Sequence analysis indicated the PrsA protein to be a lipoprotein located outside the cytoplasmic membrane. Thirty percent identity was shown to the PrtM protein of Lactococcus lactis, which is involved in the maturation of an exported proteinase. The phenotypes of prsA mutants and the structural similarity of PrsA with PrtM suggest that PrsA may have a novel function at a late phase in protein export.

Substitution of lysine at position 104 or 240 of TEM-1pTZ18R beta-lactamase enhances the effect of serine-164 substitution on hydrolysis or affinity for cephalosporins and the monobactam aztreonam

By site-directed mutagenesis, TEM-1 beta-lactamase was altered to contain single amino acid changes of E104K, R164S, and E240K, in addition to double changes of E104K/R164S or R164S/E240K and the triple change of E104K/R164S/E240K. Hydrolysis rates for cephaloridine and benzylpenicillin were lowered at least 1 order of magnitude for all enzymes containing R164S substitutions. All mutant enzymes exhibited increased kcat values for beta-lactam antibiotics containing an aminothiazole oxime side chain. Hydrolysis of ceftazidime was most affected, with kcat values increased 3-4 orders of magnitude in all enzymes with the substituted R164S moiety. Km values decreased for all substrates except ceftazidime in the enzymes with multiple mutations. Aztreonam was most affected, with Km values lowered 23-56-fold in the enzymes bearing multiple mutations. When the crystal structures of aztreonam and related monobactams were studied and projected into an active-site model of the PC1 beta-lactamase, it became apparent that the two lysine residues might serve equivalent roles by interacting with the carboxylate of the aminothiazole oxime side chain. Hydrogen-bonding interactions involving the oxime and N7 of the lysine, particularly Lys-104, may also be important in some antibiotics. Ser-164 apparently serves an indirect role, since it is somewhat distant from the active-site cleft.

Refined crystal structure of beta-lactamase from Staphylococcus aureus PC1 at 2.0 A resolution

The crystal structure of a class A beta-lactamase from Staphylococcus aureus PC1 has been refined at 2.0 A resolution. The resulting crystallographic R-factor (R = sigma h parallel Fo[-]Fc parallel/sigma h[Fo], where [Fo] and [Fc] are the observed and calculated structure factor amplitudes, respectively), is 0.163 for the 17,547 reflections with I greater than or equal to 2 sigma (I) within the 8.0 A to 2.0 A resolution range. The molecule consists of two closely associated domains. One domain is formed by a five-stranded antiparallel beta-sheet with three helices packing against a face of the sheet. The second domain is formed mostly by helices that pack against the second face of the sheet. The active site is located in the interface between the two domains, and many of the residues that form it are conserved in all known sequences of class A beta-lactamases. Similar to the serine proteases, an oxyanion hole is implicated in catalysis. It is formed by two main-chain nitrogen atoms, that of the catalytic seryl residue, Ser70, and that of Gln237 on an edge beta-strand of the major beta-sheet. Ser70 is interacting with another conserved seryl residue, Ser130, located between the two ammonium groups of the functionally important lysine residues, Lys73 and Lys234. Such intricate interactions point to a possible catalytic role for this second seryl residue. Another key catalytic residue is Glu166. There are several unusual structural features associated with the active site. (1) A cis peptide bond has been identified between the catalytic Glu166 and Ile167. (2) Ala69 and Leu220 have strained phi, psi dihedral angles making close contacts that restrict the conformation of the active site beta-strand involved in the formation of the oxyanion hole. (3) A buried aspartate residue, the conserved Asp233, is located next to the active site Lys234. It is interacting with another buried aspartyl residue, Asp246. An internal solvent molecule is also involved, but the rest of its interactions with the protein indicate it is not a cation. (4) Another conserved aspartyl residue that is desolvated is Asp131, adjacent to Ser130. Its charge is stabilized by interactions with four main-chain nitrogen atoms. (5) An internal cavity underneath the active site depression is filled with six solvent molecules. This, and an adjacent cavity occupied by three solvent molecules partially separate the omega-loop associated with the active site from the rest of the protein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ragged N-termini and other variants of class A beta-lactamases analysed by chromatofocusing

Four beta-lactamases excreted by Gram-positive bacteria exhibited microheterogeneity when analysed by chromatofocusing or ion-exchange chromatography. Ragged N-termini were in part responsible for the charge variants, but deamidation of an asparagine residue was also involved, at least for the Bacillus licheniformis enzyme. The activity of a contaminating proteinase could also be demonstrated in the case of Actinomadura R39 beta-lactamase. With that enzyme, proteolysis resulted in partial inactivation, but the inactivated fragments were easily separated from the active forms. With these, as with the other enzymes, the kinetic parameters of the major variants were identical with those of the mixture within the limits of experimental error, so that the catalytic properties of these enzymes can be determined with the 'heterogeneous' preparations.

Inactivation of the RTEM-1 cysteine beta-lactamase by iodoacetate. The nature of active-site functional groups and comparisons with the native enzyme

The pH-rate profile for inactivation of the RTEM-1 cysteine beta-lactamase by iodoacetate supports previous evidence [Knap & Pratt (1989) Proteins Struct. Funct. Genet. 6, 316-323] for the activation of the active-site thiol group by adjacent functional groups. The enhanced reactivity of iodoacetate, with respect to that of iodoacetamide, suggests the influence of a positive charge in the active site. The reactivity of iodoacetate is not affected by dissociation of an active-site functional group of pKa 6.7, which increases the reactivity of neutral reagents, probably because of a compensation phenomenon; it is, however, lost on dissociation of an acid of pKa 8.1. It is concluded that the active cysteine beta-lactamase has four functional groups at the active site, one nucleophilic thiolate of Cys-70, one neutral acid (most probably the carboxy group of Glu-166, from the crystal structures) and two cationic residues (most probably Lys-73 and Lys-234). A comparison of these results with the pH-dependence of reactivity of the native RTEM-2 beta-lactamase suggests that the active form of the latter enzyme is also monocationic, although the nucleophile (Ser-70) is likely to be neutral in this case and the carboxylic acid dissociated. A mechanism of class A beta-lactamase catalysis is discussed where the Glu-166 carboxylate acts as a general base/acid catalyst and Lys-73 is principally required for electrostatic stabilization of the anionic tetrahedral intermediate.

Site-directed mutagenesis of beta-lactamase I. Single and double mutants of Glu-166 and Lys-73

Two single mutants and the corresponding double mutant of beta-lactamase I from Bacillus cereus 569/H were constructed and their kinetics investigated. The mutants have Lys-73 replaced by arginine (K73R), or Glu-166 replaced by aspartic acid (E166D), or both (K73R + E166D). All four rate constants in the acyl-enzyme mechanism were determined for the E166D mutant by the methods described by Christensen, Martin & Waley [(1990) Biochem. J. 266, 853-861]. Both the rate constants for acylation and deacylation for the hydrolysis of benzylpenicillin were decreased about 2000-fold in this mutant. In the K73R mutant, and in the double mutant, the rate constants for acylation were decreased about 100-fold and 10,000-fold respectively. All three mutants also had lowered values for the rate constants for the formation and dissociation of the non-covalent enzyme-substrate complex. The specificities of the mutants did not differ greatly from those of wild-type beta-lactamase, but the hydrolysis of cephalosporin C by the K73R mutant gave 'burst' kinetics.

Role of the conserved amino acids of the 'SDN' loop (Ser130, Asp131 and Asn132) in a class A beta-lactamase studied by site-directed mutagenesis

Ser130, Asp131 and Asn132 ('SDN') are highly conserved residues in class A beta-lactamases forming one wall of the active-site cavity. All three residues of the SDN loop in Streptomyces albus G beta-lactamase were modified by site-directed mutagenesis. The mutant proteins were expressed in Streptomyces lividans, purified from culture supernatants and their kinetic parameters were determined for several substrates. Ser130 was substituted by Asn, Ala and Gly. The first modification yielded an almost totally inactive protein, whereas the smaller-side-chain mutants (A and G) retained some activity, but were less stable than the wild-type enzyme. Ser130 might thus be involved in maintaining the structure of the active-site cavity. Mutations of Asp131 into Glu and Gly proved to be highly detrimental to enzyme stability, reflecting significant structural perturbations. Mutation of Asn132 into Ala resulted in a dramatically decreased enzymic activity (more than 100-fold) especially toward cephalosporin substrates, kcat. being the most affected parameter, which would indicate a role of Asn132 in transition-state stabilization rather than in ground-state binding. Comparison of the N132A and the previously described N132S mutant enzymes underline the importance of an H-bond-forming residue at position 132 for the catalytic process.

The role of lysine-234 in beta-lactamase catalysis probed by site-directed mutagenesis

Lys-234 has been postulated to participate in beta-lactamase catalysis by acting as an electrostatic anchor for the C3 carboxylate of penicillins [Herzberg, O., & Moult, J. (1987) Science 236, 694-701]. To test this hypothesis, site-directed mutagenesis was used to convert the Lys-234 in Bacillus licheniformis beta-lactamase into Glu-234 or Ala-234. The wild-type, Glu-234, and Ala-234 beta-lactamases have been expressed in Bacillus subtilis and purified to homogeneity. The wild-type, K234E, and K234A enzymes have virtually identical circular dichroism and fluorescence spectra, similar thermal stabilities at neutral pH, and the same susceptibilities to proteolysis, indicating the lack of significant structural perturbation caused by the mutation. At acidic and basic pH the mutant enzymes have the same native circular dichroism as the wild-type enzyme but the thermal stability is significantly different. The mutations cause perturbations of the pK values of the ionizing groups responsible for the pH dependence of the catalytic reaction in both the free enzyme and the E.S complex. As expected, conversion of Lys-234 to Ala or Glu decreased substrate binding (Km) by 1-2 orders of magnitude for several penicillin and cephalosporin substrates at neutral and higher pH. However, at low pH, Km is essentially the same for the K234E and K234A enzymes as for the wild-type enzyme. Furthermore, decreases of 2-3 orders of magnitude in kcat were also observed, indicating substantial effects on the transition-state binding, as well as on ground-state binding. Surprisingly, changing the C3 carboxylate of phenoxymethylpenicillin to a hydroxymethyl group led to little difference in kinetic properties with the K234E or K234A enzyme. The results of this investigation indicate the Lys-234 is an important active-site residue involved in both ground-state and transition-state binding.

Inhibition of a class C beta-lactamase by a specific phosphonate monoester

A phosphonate monoester, m-carboxyphenyl phenylacetamidomethylphosphonate, has been found to be a specific inhibitor of the class C beta-lactamase of Enterobacter cloacae P99. Inactivation is rapid (10(3) per second per molar concentration) and reactivation very slow (2.2 X 10(-6) per second). Apparently concerted with the inactivation, one equivalent (with respect to the enzyme) of m-hydroxybenzoate is released. Reactivation is accelerated by hydroxylamine and benzohydroxamate. This suggests that the loss of enzyme activity is due to phosphonylation of an active site functional group. This discovery holds the promise of a new general class of beta-lactamase inhibitors and, perhaps, antibiotics.