ABSTRACT
The enzyme OXA-9, an oxacillinase-carbenicillinase, is encoded by the blaOXA-9 gene which was originally found within the structure of Tn1331, a multiresistance transposon first isolated from a clinical Klebsiella pneumoniae strain. Studies to characterize OXA-9 demonstrated that it has a pI of 6.9 and the optimal pH for enzyme activity was between 7.7 and 8.2. When total soluble extracts were preincubated at 37 degrees C and at 42 degrees C, enzyme activity decayed to approximately 56% of the original value after 6 hrs. at 37 degrees C and to 50% after 30 min. at 42 degrees C. Enzymatic activity of OXA-9 was inhibited in the presence of p-chloromercuribenzoate, cloxacillin and clavulanic acid, but not by 200 mM sodium chloride. The inhibition by p-chloromercuribenzoate may indicate the presence of a cysteine residue playing a role in the catalytic activity of the enzyme. The OXA-9 enzyme was released by osmotic shock of E. coli cells harboring a recombinant clone including the blaOXA-9 gene indicating that it is located in the periplasmic space of the cells. The OXA-9 enzyme was purified from soluble protein extracts of E. coli cells carrying a recombinant clone including the blaOXA-9 by ion exchange chromatography.
Subject(s)
DNA Transposable Elements , Penicillinase , Amino Acid Sequence , Drug Resistance, Multiple , Isoelectric Focusing , Isoelectric Point , Molecular Sequence Data , Penicillinase/genetics , Penicillinase/isolation & purification , Penicillinase/metabolism , Sequence Analysis , Sequence Homology, Amino Acid , Subcellular FractionsABSTRACT
The synthetic nucleoside tiazofurin(2-beta-ribofuranosylthiazole-4-carboxyamide) and its selenium analog selenazofurin inhibited the growth of L1210 leukemia cell culture in a dose dependent manner with IC50 value of 2.0 and 0.2 Um respectively. The GTP/ATP ratio was diminished 4-6 fold as measured by HPLC, while IMP/ATP increased 6-8 fold. The decreased guanylate pools may explain the 30% reduction in cyclic GMP levels and GTPase activity measured after the treatment with the nucleosides. Inhibition of phospholipase C activity is suggested since diacylglycerol content, protein kinase C activity and phorbol ester binding of the membrane fraction were also reduced 20-40%. These results reveal a novel aspect in the action of these compounds which may play a role in their therapeutic action and selectivity.
