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Ahmed Abdullah
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I have learned that beta-lactamase enzymes have very ancient origin. And they are just tinkered in the recent anthropogenic activity. So some original form must be out there. What are their natural target?
Actually I was looking for a specific example.Ygggdrasil said:Remember that penicillin was originally derived from a fungus. There are plenty of organisms in nature that produce antibiotic compounds from which the bacteria need to defend themselves.
Ahmed Abdullah said:Actually I was looking for a specific example.
bobze said:He was specific. Beta-lactamase attacks beta-lactam rings. Which forms the backbone of penicillins produced by fungi. Something bacteria would need to defend themselves against.
If you are asking what was the specific fungi beta-lactam that bacteria evolved beta-lactamases to that is a silly question. Molecules don't fossilize so there is no reason we should expect to ever know the exact ancestral beta-lactam.
Beta lactamase is an enzyme that is naturally produced by bacteria. It is responsible for breaking down beta-lactam antibiotics, such as penicillin and cephalosporins, making them ineffective against the bacteria.
The natural targets of beta lactamase are beta-lactam antibiotics. These antibiotics have a chemical structure that resembles the structure of the bacterial cell wall, which is why they are able to kill bacteria. However, beta lactamase breaks down this structure, rendering the antibiotics ineffective.
Beta lactamase breaks down the chemical structure of beta-lactam antibiotics, making them ineffective against bacteria. This means that bacteria that produce beta lactamase are able to resist the effects of these antibiotics and continue to grow and cause infections.
Yes, there are natural inhibitors of beta lactamase. Some bacteria produce enzymes that can inhibit the activity of beta lactamase, making the antibiotics effective again. Additionally, some plants and fungi produce compounds that can also inhibit beta lactamase activity.
Yes, bacteria can become resistant to beta lactamase. This can happen through mutations in the bacterial DNA that result in changes to the structure of beta lactamase, making it less susceptible to inhibition. Bacteria can also acquire genes from other bacteria through horizontal gene transfer that encode for beta lactamase enzymes that are not affected by natural inhibitors.