Biochemical Characterization of the Acquired Metallo-β-Lactamase SPM-1 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Abstract

ABSTRACT SPM-1 is a new metallo-β-lactamase recently identified in Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain 48-1997A, isolated in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Kinetic analysis demonstrated that SPM-1 has a broad hydrolytic profile across a wide range of β-lactam antibiotics. Considerable variation was observed within the penicillin, cephalosporin, and carbapenem subfamilies; however, on the whole, SPM-1 appears to preferentially hydrolyze cephalosporins. The highest k cat/ K m ratios (in micromolar per second) overall were observed for this subgroup. The hydrolytic profile of SPM-1 bears the most similarity to that of the metallo-β-lactamase IMP-1, yet for the most part, SPM-1 has k cat / K m values higher than those of IMP-1. Zinc chelator studies established that progressive inhibition of SPM-1 by EDTA, dipicolinic acid, and 1-10- o -phenanthroline demonstrated a biexponential pattern in which none of the chelators completely inhibited SPM-1. A homology model of SPM-1 was developed on the basis of the IMP-1 crystal structure, which showed the protein folding and active-site structure characteristic of metallo-β-lactamases and which provides an explanation for the kinetic profiles observed.