title: beta-Lactamases are absent from Archaea (archaebacteria).
abstract: beta-Lactamases, enzymes that hydrolyze and inactive beta-lactam antibiotics, are of widespread occurrence in Bacteria and are related to the metabolism of bacterial cell wall murein. So far, no information exists on beta-lactamases in Archaea, a separate domain of prokaryotes with diverse types of unique cell wall polymers. Different mesophilic methanogenic and extremely halophilic Archaea containing methanochondroitin, pseudomurein, or S-layer protein or glycoprotein cell walls, were tested for beta-lactamase activity with the chromogenic beta-lactam nitrocefin as substrate. Also tested were representative microbial Eucarya from algae, yeasts, and protozoa. No beta-lactamase activity was detected in any of the archaeal and eukaryotic organisms. This supports the view that beta-lactamases are restricted to the domain of Bacteria.
authors.affiliation: Fachbereich 10-Biologie-Technische Hochschule Darmstadt, Germany.
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: König
mesh_terms: D001105:Archaea / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000378:metabolism; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000378:metabolism; D003470:Culture Media; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002511:Cephalosporins; D003470:Culture Media; D001618:beta-Lactamases; C021720:nitrocefin