Review of zinc beta-lactamases

What is it about?

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a serious and increasing clinical problem. In the case of beta-lactam antibiotics, such as penicillin, a very important source of resistance is the beta-lactamases, enzymes which destroy the antibiotics. Among these, the zinc-dependent beta-lactamases are particularly important, since they act on virtually all beta-lactam antibiotics. This article reviews the binding of the zinc ions, and their roles in substrate binding and in the catalytic mechanism.

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