title: Anionic properties of beta-lactam-enhancing factor on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: We found a Factor (factor T) in aged mixtures of tungstate and phosphate which greatly enhanced the antibacterial effects of beta-lactams upon methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Factor T suppressed penicillinase production and the amount of penicillin-binding protein-2' in the membrane fraction, thus sensitizing MRSA strains to beta-lactams. In addition, Factor T caused a metachromatic reaction and prolonged the blood coagulation time, indicating that it is a heparin-like polyanion. Since Factor T becomes ineffective in the presence of a polycation, a charge interaction may play an important role in the enhancing effect. One possibility is that Factor T non-specifically inhibits several anion-sensitive enzymes. Factor T inhibited several nucleotide-interacting enzymes, but not most serum enzymes.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory, Saga Medical School Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tajima
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Nagasawa
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tanabe
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kusaba
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tadano
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000187:drug effects; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D010405:Penicillinase / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010710:Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017973:Tungsten Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014914:Whole Blood Coagulation Time; D047090:beta-Lactams
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001798:Blood Proteins; D004338:Drug Combinations; D010710:Phosphates; D017973:Tungsten Compounds; D047090:beta-Lactams; D010405:Penicillinase