Plasmid regulation and temperature-sensitive behavior of the Yersinia pestis penicillin-binding proteins

Penicillin-binding proteins of pathogenic Escherichia coli strains

The penicillin-binding proteins of 11 pathogenic Escherichia coli strains, including enteropathogenic, enterotoxigenic, enteroinvasive, enteroaggregative, and enterohemorrhagic E. coli, were detected in gels following the labeling of isolated cell envelopes with [3H]benzylpenicillin. The electrophoretic profiles, sensitivities to and morphological changes induced by beta-lactam antibiotics showed that the penicillin-binding proteins of most pathogenic E. coli possess structural and physiological functions similar to those of E. coli K12.

Interactions of Yersinia pestis penicillin-binding proteins with beta-lactam antibiotics

The affinities of six major penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) of Yersinia pestis EV76 to different beta-lactam antibiotics were determined. The results indicate that, similar to their counterparts in Escherichia coli, PBP2 and PBP3 are the lethal targets of amdinocillin and furazlocillin, respectively. The PBP contents of four additional Y. pestis strains and the morphological effects produced by some beta-lactam antibiotics are also reported.