title: Induction of cell lysis in Escherichia coli: cooperative effect of nocardicin A and mecillinam.
abstract: Nocardicin A and mecillinam are two beta-lactam antibiotics with poor bacteriolytic activity against Escherichia coli. However, the combined use of these drugs resulted in the induction of a fast lytic response in E. coli cells. For this cooperative effect to take place, the formation of a complex between penicillin-binding protein 2 and mecillinam is apparently necessary. This suggests that penicillin-binding protein 2 might be actively involved in the response of E. coli to bacteriolytic beta-lactam antibiotics.
mesh_terms: D000560:Amdinocillin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D007769:Lactams / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D010397:Penicillanic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010406:Penicillins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D007769:Lactams; D010406:Penicillins; C027318:nocardicin; D010397:Penicillanic Acid; D000560:Amdinocillin