The characteristics of enzyme kinetics of CTX-M-14 type extended-spectrum β-lactamase with Pro167 residue substitution

Objective To analyze and evaluate the characteristics of enzyme kinetics of CTX-M-14 type extended-spectrum β-lactamase(ESBL) with Pro167 residue substitution. Methods By molecular cloning and PCR techniques, CTX-M-14 gene was directionally cloned into plasmid pET28a( + ) from a clinical E. coli isolate and formed an expression vector to transform competent E. coli BL21 (DE3 ). Prol67 residue substitutions of P167G, P167Q, P167S and P167T were introduced to CTX-M-14 by site-directed muta-genesis based on overlap extension PCR with the former recombinant plasmid as PCR template, respectively.The wild-type CTX-M-14, recombinant CTX-M-14 protein and its variants were expressed and purified, then their steady-state kinetic parameters (Kcat, Km and Kcat/Km ) against β-lactam antibiotics were determined.Results The kinetic parameters of wild-type and recombinant CTX-M-14 had no statistically significant differences (P>0.1). The 1/Km, Kcat and Kcat/Km values of P167S variant against ceftazidime were 16-fold, 2.87-fold and 43.6-fold higher than those of recombinant CTX-M-14, respectively, and the Kcat/Km value of P167S variant against penicillin, ampicillin, cefazolin, cefuroxime, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime decreased( < 0.05). Compared with the kinetic parameters of recombinant CTX-M-14, the kinetic parameters of P167T variant against ceftazidime had no significant change, but the Kcat values of P167Q and P167G variants decreased dramatically(P<0.01). Conclusion There was no difference between the enzyme activities of wild-type and recombinant CTX-M-14. P167S variant could not only promote the enzyme affinity of CTX-M-14 to ceftazidime but also improve the conversion rate of enzyme-substrate complex in the ceftazidime hydrolysis. The comparison of the kinetic parameters of CTX-M-14 and its variants with Pro167 residue substitution showed that the increased activity of CTX-M ESBL variants against ceftazidime could not be simply explained with the enlarged cavity in active site that may be caused by the replacement of Pro167 residue by smaller amino acids.