Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J M Frere

Publications and source records attributed to J M Frere.

35 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Characterization of a beta-lactamase produced in Mycobacterium fortuitum D316.

A beta-lactamase from Mycobacterium fortuitum D316 was purified and some physico-chemical properties and substrate profile determined. On the basis of its N-terminal sequence and of its sensitivity to beta-iodopenicillanate inactivation, the enzyme appeared to be a class A beta-lactamase, but its substrate profile was quite unexpected, since nine cephalosporins were among the eleven best substrates. The enzyme also hydrolysed ureidopenicillins and some so-called 'beta-lactamase-stable' cephalosporins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Sequence and comparative analysis of three Enterobacter cloacae ampC beta-lactamase genes and their products.

The sequences of three Enterobacter cloacae ampC beta-lactamase genes have been determined. The deduced amino acid sequences are very similar: out of a total of 361 residues, only eight positions were found to be variable, and several mutations yielded residues with very similar properties. The kinetic properties of two of the enzymes were not significantly different. The three enzymes also exhibited a high degree of homology (greater than 70%) with the ampC beta-lactamases of Escherichia coli K12 and Citrobacter freundii, confirming the homogeneity of class-C beta-lactamases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1987

Cloning and amplified expression in Streptomyces lividans of the gene encoding the extracellular beta-lactamase from Streptomyces cacaoi.

A 19 kb SphI DNA fragment containing the gene for the extracellular active-site serine beta-lactamase of Streptomyces cacaoi KCC-SO352 was cloned in Streptomyces lividans TK24 using the high-copy-number plasmid pIJ702 as vector. A 30-fold higher yield of beta-lactamase was obtained from S. lividans strain ML1, carrying the recombinant plasmid pDML51, than from S. cacaoi grown under optimal production conditions. In all respects (molecular mass, isoelectric point, kinetics of inhibition by beta-iodopenicillanate) the overproduced S. lividans ML1 beta-lactamase was identical to the original S. cacaoi enzyme. A considerable reduction of beta-lactamase production was caused by elimination of a 12.8 kb portion of the 19 kb DNA fragment by cleavage at an internal SphI site located more than 3 kb upstream of the beta-lactamase structural gene. The beta-lactamase gene was located within a 1.8 NcoI-BclI fragment but when this fragment was cloned in S. lividans pIJ702, the resulting strain produced hardly any more beta-lactamase than the original S. cacaoi.

Cloning, Molecular↗
PubMed1985

Computation of physiochemical parameters, inter alia, pH, in complex (bio)chemical systems.

Generic equations and algorithms are derived to compute, in complex (bio)chemical systems at equilibrium, the following physicochemical parameters: pH (or the concentration of any chemical species), partitions between acid and base forms, global charge, molar mean charges, ionic strength, and molar mean contributions to ionic strength. The model only requires the knowledge of existing thermodynamic constants and of the composition of the system in chemical species as the sum of the different forms other than the species under examination. It takes ionic strength aspects into consideration. Several innovations simplify the computation process: use of polyacidity constants, generalized expression of molar parameters, computation of global parameters from molar mean contributions, simplified corrections for activity, and easy iterative process for pH determination. The model always elicits a unique equilibrium state, namely, it always yields a unique pH value. Computed values always agreed with experimental measurements, thereby validating the model. Digital computer programs were prepared to use the proposed algorithms, which are also a very simple and easy way, compared to the available mathematical descriptions, to solve the problem "manually" without computer facilities.

Biochemistry↗
PubMed1985

The beta-lactamase of Enterobacter cloacae P99. Chemical properties, N-terminal sequence and interaction with 6 beta-halogenopenicillanates.

The beta-lactamase of Enterobacter cloacae P99 consists of one polypeptide chain of Mr 39000 devoid of disulphide bridges and free thiol groups. It contains an unusually high proportion of tyrosine and tryptophan. The N-terminal sequence exhibits overlaps with the tryptic peptide obtained after labelling the active site with 6 beta-iodopenicillanate. The active-site serine residue is at position 64. The homology with the chromosomal beta-lactamase of Escherichia coli K 12 (ampC gene) is lower within the 25 residues of the N-terminal portion than around the active-site serine residue. The P99 beta-lactamase is inactivated by 6 beta-bromo- and 6 beta-iodo-penicillanate, with a second-order rate constant of 110-140M-1 X s-1 at 30 degrees C and pH 7.0, a value that is much lower than that observed with class-A beta-lactamases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1984

The active site of the P99 beta-lactamase from Enterobacter cloacae.

Labelling the beta-lactamase of Enterobacter cloacae P99 with a poor substrate or a mechanism-based inactivator points to an active-site serine residue in a sequence closely resembling that of the ampC beta-lactamase. These results establish the P99 enzyme as a class-C beta-lactamase, and the concurrence of the two approaches helps to confirm the reliability of determining active-site sequences with the aid of mechanism-based inactivators.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1984

Des-, syn- and anti-oxyimino-delta 3-cephalosporins. Intrinsic reactivity and reaction with RTEM-2 serine beta-lactamase and D-alanyl-D-alanine-cleaving serine and Zn2+-containing peptidases.

The presence and configuration (syn or anti) of an oxyimino group in the 7 (beta)-acyl side chain of 3-cephems do not modify the intrinsic reactivity of the beta-lactam ring, but have highly enzyme-specific effects. When compared with the corresponding desoxyimino beta-lactam compound: (i) with the plasmid-mediated Escherichia coli RTEM-2 serine beta-lactamase, the substrate activity of the anti isomer is increased and that of the syn isomer is decreased; (ii) with the Streptomyces R61 serine D-alanyl-D-alanine cleaving peptidase (a highly penicillin-sensitive enzyme), the rate of enzyme acylation is not or only little affected when the oxyimino group is in the syn configuration, but is decreased when the oxyimino group is in the anti configuration; (iii) with the Actinomadura R39 serine D-alanyl-D-alanine-cleaving peptidase (an exceedingly highly penicillin-sensitive enzyme), the rate of enzyme acylation is unaffected whatever the configuration of the substituent. The oxidation of the sulphur atom of the dihydrothiazine ring on the beta-face of the molecule makes it both a poorer inactivator of the DD-peptidases and a poorer substrate of the beta-lactamase. The Streptomyces albus G Zn2+-containing D-alanyl-D-alanine-cleaving peptidase (a highly penicillin-resistant enzyme) remains highly resistant to all compounds tested.

Carboxypeptidases↗
PubMed1979

Effect of K+ ions on kinetic properties of the (Na+, K+)-ATPase (EC 3.6.1.3) of bulk isolated glial cells, perikarya and synaptosomes from rabbit brain cortex.

Progress curves of the enzymatic reactions show that ATPases of bulk isolated glial cells, perikarya and synaptosomes exhibit hysteretic change. Initial velocities of enzyme activities were therefore obtained according to the equation valid for the hysteretic model. The (Na+, K+)-ATPase activities of the same brain fractions were measured before or after NaI treatment. Only glial and synaptosomal enzyme could be adequately extracted by using this procedure. Attempts to purify the (Na+, K+)-ATPase from brain perikarya by NaI extraction were unsuccessful. In order to determine the effect of the K+ ions on enzymic physiological efficiency (phys. eff.; i.e., the ratio Vmax/Kmapp) the variation of (Na+, K+)-ATPase activities from each brain fraction was measured as a function of Mg.ATP2- concentration in the presence of 5 and 20 mM K+ ions. High K+ ion concentrations (20 mM) increased the physiological efficiency of glial enzyme and decreased the same kinetic parameter in neuronal (perikaryal as well as synaptosomal) enzyme preparations. Results are discussed in relation to a possible distribution of distinct enzyme in different brain cell populations as well as a possible role of glial cells in an active regulation of K+ ion extracellular fluid in the CNS.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1972

Transpeptidase activity of Streptomyces D-alanyl-D carboxypeptidases.

In the presence of N(alpha),N(epsilon)-diacetyl-L-Lys-D-Ala-D-Ala as donor, and either D-[(14)C]alanine, [(14)C]-glycine, or meso-[(3)H]diaminopimelic acid as acceptor, the DD carboxypeptidases from Streptomyces R61 and R39 catalyze a transpeptidation reaction with the release of terminal D-alanine from the donor and the formation of either N(alpha),N(epsilon)-diacetyl-L-Lys-D-Ala-D-[(14)C]Ala, N(alpha),N(epsilon)-diacetyl-L-Lys-D-Ala-[(14)C] Gly, or N(alpha),N(epsilon)-diacetyl-L-Lys-D-Ala-D-meso- [(3)H]diaminopimelic acid. The reaction appears to be a true transpeptidation, and is not simply a "reversal of hydrolysis". Transpeptidation is inhibited by pencillin at concentrations that inhibit hydrolysis (carboxypeptidase action) of the donor peptide. There are differences in the specificity profiles of the Streptomyces enzymes for acceptor molecules:only the R61 enzyme used [(14)C]Gly-Gly as acceptor; transfer of N(alpha),N(epsilon)-diacetyl-L-Lys-D-Ala to this acceptor resulted in the formation of N(alpha),N(epsilon)-diacetyl-Lys-D-Ala-[(14)C] Gly-Gly, with the synthesis of a (D-Ala-Gly) peptide bond in an endoposition.

Alanine↗