Characteristics of a β-Iactamase produced by Clostridium butyricum

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Abstract
A β-lactamase enzyme produced by a strain of Clostridium butyricum is described. The enzyme differs from other β-lactamases from Gram-positive organisms. It was inducible by cephalothin only, but had the characteristics of a penicillinase, with some activity against methicillin and cloxacillin. It had a pH optimum of 7·1 and was not resistant to heating at 100°C for more than 2 min or 56°C for longer than 30 min. Two bands of β-lactamase activity at pH 4·4 and 4·5 were seen on iso-electric focussing. The enzyme was the major protein elaborated by the organism and it had a molecular weight of 8–8·5 × 104.