The kinetics of reaction of solubilized penicillin-binding protein 2a (sPBP2a) of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with a variety of beta-lactams and acyclic species was studied in homogeneous aqueous solution at 37 degreesC in 25 mM Hepes buffer, pH7.0, containing 1 M NaCl. Under these conditions, but not at lower salt concentrations, protein precipitation did not occur either during or after the reaction. The reactions of beta-lactams in general could be monitored by competition with a chromophoric beta-lactam, nitrocefin, or directly in certain cases by protein fluorescence. Rate constants for reaction of a wide variety of beta-lactams are reported. The interactions are characterized by a slow second-order acylation reaction followed by a slower deacylation. For example, the rate constants for benzylpenicillin were 12 M-1.s-1 and 3x10(-5) s-1 respectively. The acylation is slow in comparison with those of normal non-resistant high-molecular-mass penicillin-binding proteins. sPBP2a also seemed to catalyse the slow hydrolysis of a variety of acyclic depsipeptides but not that of a d-Ala-d-Ala peptide. The reactions with certain depsipeptides also led to protein precipitation. These reactions were, however, not affected by prior blockage of the beta-lactam-binding site by benzylpenicillin and thus might take place elsewhere on the enzyme. Two classes of potential transition- state analogue inhibitors, phosphonate monoesters and boronates, seemed to have little effect on the rate of reaction of sPBP2a with nitrocefin and therefore seem to have little affinity for the beta-lactam-binding/D,D-peptidase site.

Kinetics studies in homogeneous aqueous solution showed that solubilized penicillin-binding protein 2a (sPBP2a) of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (a bacterial DD-peptidase) was inhibited by the amphiphilic glycolipid antibiotic moenomycin. Inhibition at the peptidase site was determined by competition experiments between moenomycin and the chromophoric beta-lactam nitrocefin. Under conditions of high salt concentration (1 M NaCl), pseudo-first-order rate constants for the reaction of moenomycin with sPBP2a leading to inhibition of acylation by nitrocefin varied with moenomycin concentration in a biphasic fashion. At low moenomycin concentration (<20 microM) little inhibition occurred, but at higher concentrations a linear increase in rate constant with moenomycin concentration was observed, yielding a second-order rate constant of inhibition of 120 s(-)(1) M(-)(1). Since the cmc of moenomycin under these conditions was shown to be ca. 20 microM, the inhibition was concluded to arise from reaction of sPBP2a with a moenomycin micelle. Protein fluorescence studies showed a pseudo-first-order decrease in fluorescence on reaction of the protein with moenomycin. The variation of this rate constant with moenomycin concentration was consistent with reaction of a moenomycin monomer with the protein with a second-order rate constant of 650 s(-)(1) M(-)(1). This monomer reaction did not occur at the DD-peptidase site since its rate was unaffected by prior acylation of the enzyme by benzylpenicillin; nor did it inhibit reaction at that site by beta-lactams. Under low salt conditions (0.175 M NaCl) where reaction could be studied over a greater range of monomer concentrations since the cmc was ca. 120 microM, similar reactions were involved. Under these circumstances, inhibition was concerted with the reaction of moenomycin monomers, although fast premicellar aggregation of moenomycin with the protein also occurred. All moenomycin interactions with sPBP2a were reversible, as revealed by detergent-extraction chromatography. Lower limits to moenomycin off-rates and equilibrium dissociation constants were 7.7 x 10(-)(4) s(-)(1) and 1.2 microM, respectively. Other amphiphiles did not react in exactly the same manner as moenomycin, indicating some degree of specificity in reactions of the latter. sPBP2a did not have detectable affinity for lipid surfaces (Triton X-114 and phosphatidylglycerol vesicles). A general scheme for reaction of moenomycin with sPBP2a is proposed.