title: Inhibition of the  -lactamases of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella aerogenes by semi-synthetic penicillins.
abstract: 1. A new automated micro-iodometric method is described for screening compounds for inhibitory action against beta-lactamase enzymes. 2. Over 1000 semi-synthetic penicillins were tested for inhibitory activity against the beta-lactamase of Escherichia coli B11 and 18 showed a fractional inhibition similar to or higher than that of methicillin. 3. The best inhibitors were alkoxy- and halogen-substituted phenyl-, naphthyl- or quinolyl-penicillins. 2-Isopropoxy-1-naphthylpenicillin (BRL 1437) was clearly the best and had a K(i) value about 1% of that of methicillin. 4. The inhibition of the beta-lactamase of E. coli B11 by BRL 1437 was shown to be reversible and competitive. The K(i) was 0.004mum and K(i)/K(m) with ampicillin and p-hydroxyampicillin (BRL 2333) was about 0.0001. The K(m) and V(max.) values were determined for the beta-lactamases of E. coli B11 and Klebsiella aerogenes A against a variety of penicillins. Cell-bound and solubilized enzymes gave similar K(i) and K(m) values. 5. BRL 1437 was superior to cloxacillin and methicillin for inhibition of the beta-lactamase of live, fully grown cultures of several strains of E. coli and K. aerogenes. Of a group of inhibitors BRL 1437 was the most stable to the beta-lactamase of E. coli B11.
mesh_terms: D001331:Automation; D001681:Biological Assay; D003023:Cloxacillin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004754:Enterobacter / Q000201:enzymology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology*; D007455:Iodine; D007700:Kinetics; D008712:Methicillin / Q000494:pharmacology; D010068:Oxacillin; D010406:Penicillins / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D065093:beta-Lactamase Inhibitors
chemical_list: D010406:Penicillins; D065093:beta-Lactamase Inhibitors; D007455:Iodine; D003023:Cloxacillin; D008712:Methicillin; D010068:Oxacillin