Interaction of tazobactam with Staphylococcus aureus PC1 beta-lactamase: a molecular modelling and enzyme kinetics study.

Tazobactam is a highly potent inhibitor of beta-lactamases. A kinetic study of its interaction with the class A Staphylococcus aureus PC1 beta-lactamase was undertaken which showed competitive inhibition with the substrate nitrocefin. When the enzyme was preincubated with inhibitor for varying lengths of time, the kinetic profile was consistent with a portion of the enzyme being irreversibly inactivated. Using the crystal structure of the enzyme a molecular modelling study revealed the likely interactions of the inhibitor at the active site of the enzyme. It was shown that a possible reaction could occur in which Ser-70 was crosslinked via a fragment of tazobactam to Lys-73. Trypsin digest experiments supported the proposed crosslinking reaction.

Structural studies on tazobactam.

Tazobactam (3, C10H12N4O5S) is an effective inhibitor of bacterial beta-lactamases. It crystallizes with unit cell dimensions a = 10.230 (2) A, b = 14.396 (2) A, and c = 17.291 (2) A in space group P2(1)2(1)2(1). Compared to the related inhibitor sulbactam (2), which lacks the triazole ring, crystalline tazobactam exhibits very similar beta-lactam geometry and the same S(1) envelope conformation of the thiazolidine ring. However, in both independent molecules of 3 a triazole ring nitrogen atom accepts an intermolecular hydrogen bond; similar interaction by this moiety of 3 with a hydrogen-bond donor on the enzyme, which is impossible for 2, could account for its enhanced inhibitory power. Semiempirical molecular orbital calculations show pronounced negative potential there. Molecular mechanics supports the hypothesis that the carboxyl group can rotate freely and the triazole ring can "flip".