title: Molecular characterization of SPM-1, a novel metallo-beta-lactamase isolated in Latin America: report from the SENTRY antimicrobial surveillance programme.
abstract: The gene encoding the metallo-beta-lactamase SPM-1 was cloned from a genomic library of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain 48-1997 A. The insert carrying spm-1 possessed a GC content of 47%, indicating that it is of non-Pseudomonas origin. Upstream of spm-1 there is a small open reading frame (ORF), which is homologous to the LysR family of proteins (69% identity to the LysR protein from Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium). Downstream of spm-1 there is the start of an ORF, the product of which shows close homology with the GroEL-type proteins from Xanthomonas campestris. No transmissible element could be identified upstream or downstream of spm-1. The spm-1 gene is carried on a plasmid that can transform both Escherichia coli and P. aeruginosa to ceftazidime resistance. SPM-1 contains the classic metallo-beta-lactamase zinc-binding motif HXHXD and shows the highest identity (35.5%) to IMP-1. SPM-1 is a distinctly different metallo-beta-lactamase from VIM and IMP and, accordingly, represents a new subfamily of mobile metallo-beta-lactamases. The predicted molecular weight of the protein was 27 515 Da, significantly higher than that of IMP (25 041 Da) or VIM (25 322 Da). SPM-1 possesses a unique loop of 23 residues that accounts for the higher molecular mass.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK. mark.toleman@bristol.ac.uk
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Toleman
authors.forename: Alan M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Simm
authors.forename: Tanya A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Ana C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Gales
authors.forename: Doug J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Biedenbach
authors.forename: Ronald N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Timothy R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence / Q000235:genetics; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: C409201:beta-lactamase IMP-1; D001618:beta-Lactamases