Beta-lactamase

<p>Beta-lactamases (β-lactamases)  are <a href="/facts/Enzyme/DSI1Fh7y">enzymes</a> (<a href="/facts/Enzyme_Commission_number/Y5GNLRKX">EC</a> <a href="https://enzyme.expasy.org/EC/3.5.2.6">3.5.2.6</a>) produced by <a href="/facts/Bacteria/wC8xSCsU">bacteria</a> that provide <a href="/facts/Multiple_drug_resistance/TPbHtAvz">multi-resistance</a> to <a href="/facts/Beta-lactam_antibiotic/MTqEtwsg">beta-lactam antibiotics</a> such as <a href="/facts/Penicillin/Abo8VQ3p">penicillins</a>, <a href="/facts/Cephalosporin/WeB7I75T">cephalosporins</a>, <a href="/facts/Cephamycin/FEUdJJT8">cephamycins</a>, <a href="/facts/Monobactams/EYumf0C5">monobactams</a> and <a href="/facts/Carbapenem/ydKuuwfQ">carbapenems</a> (<a href="/facts/Ertapenem/pP88HjgC">ertapenem</a>), although carbapenems are relatively resistant to beta-lactamase. Beta-lactamase provides antibiotic resistance by breaking the <a href="/facts/Antibiotic/sF1kIfxg">antibiotics</a>' structure. These antibiotics all have a common element in their molecular structure: a four-atom ring known as a <a href="/facts/Beta-lactam/jasUACD2">beta-lactam</a> (β-lactam) ring. Through <a href="/facts/Hydrolysis/JTvwIHPs">hydrolysis</a>, the enzyme lactamase breaks the β-lactam ring open, deactivating the molecule's antibacterial properties. 
</p><p>Beta-lactamases produced by <a href="/facts/Gram-negative_bacteria/S1PbVtp4">gram-negative bacteria</a> are usually secreted, especially when antibiotics are present in the environment.
</p>

Beta-lactamase open-in-new

Beta-lactamase