Identification of Family Specific Fingerprints in β-Lactamase Families

Abstract EN

Beta-lactamases are a superfamily of enzymes which degrade the β-lactam class of antibiotics.

They are produced endogenously by the bacterial cells, which when exposed to the β-lactam class of antibiotics inactivate them by cleaving the β-lactam ring.

Based on the presence or absence of metallic ligand, β-lactamases have been divided into two broad functional classes.

β-Lactamases are a constitutively evolving and expanding superfamily of enzymes, which could be further subdivided on the basis of presence/absence of conserved motifs.

In the present study we have used the MEME/MAST suit to identify the patterns/motifs which are specific to a particular family or subfamily of β-lactamases.

The family specific patterns/motifs can be also useful in recognizing and assigning newly discovered β-lactamases to one or the other family or subfamily.

Cross-validation showed that the proposed method is highly sensitive and specific.

We have also designed a webserver, LactFP, for this purpose.