Catalytic mechanism of the aeromonas hydrophila metallo-beta-lactamase

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Project objective

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is becoming an extremely worrying problem and beta-lactamase production is most often responsible for this phenomenon. In the frame of a general approach of the catalytic mechanisms of these enzymes, this project centres on the study of the Aeromonas hydrophila metallo-beta-lactamase. The residues which constitute the two putative zinc binding sites will be mutated to better understand their respective roles in the enzymatic properties of the protein. To do so, the modified enzymes will be produced, purified to protein homogeneity and their kinetic and (hopefully) structural characteristics determined. This should allow the design of potential inhibitors of this subclass of metallo-beta-lactamases. This program will involve extensive training in site-directed mutagenesis techniques, in protein chemistry enzyme kinetics and crystallization skills that will become more than ever precious in the post-genomic era.

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Participants

• UNIVERSITE DE LIEGE · LIEGECoordinatorBelgium

Links

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