Title: Penicillinase
CAS Registry Number: 9001-74-5
Synonyms: b-Lactamase
Trademarks: Neutrapen (3M Pharma)
Literature References: Mol wt about 50,000. Enzymes found in many bacteria which destroy penicillins and cephalosporins by catalyzing the hydrolysis of the amide bond in the b-lactam ring. Good penicillinase producers are
Bact. coli, the
Bacillus subtilis-
mesentericus group,
Bacillus anthracis and
Staphylococci. Both intra- and extracellular penicillinase are of protein nature. There are probably as many different penicillinases as there are bacteria producing them. Ion-exchange procedures for the purification of penicillinase: Puetzer, Boschetti,
US 2982696 (1961 to Schenley). Amino acid sequence studies: Ambler, Meadway,
Nature 222, 24 (1969). Therapeutic use in penicillin allergy: Y. P. Borodin,
Allerg. Asthma 14, 43 (1968).
Reviews: Chain
et al. in
Antibiotics vol. 2, Flory
et al., Eds. (Oxford, 1949) p 1090; Rothe,
Pharmazie 5, 25 (1950); Citri, Pollock,
Adv. Enzymol. 28, 237 (1966); Citri in
The Enzymes P. D. Boyer, Ed. (Academic Press, New York, 3rd ed., 1971) pp 23-46.
Use: In culture media to antagonize antibacterial activity of penicillin.
Therap-Cat: Has been used in the treatment of allergic reactions to penicillin.
Keywords: Enzyme; Penicillin inactivating.
