What is the Difference Between Penicillinase and Beta Lactamase?

Penicillinase and beta-lactamase are both enzymes produced by bacteria that contribute to antibiotic resistance. However, there are some differences between them:

1. Substrate specificity: Penicillinase is a specific subtype of beta-lactamase with a limited specificity for inactivating penicillins. In contrast, beta-lactamase is a group of enzymes that provide multi-resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics, such as penicillins, cephalosporins, cephamycins, monobactams, and carbapenems.
2. MECHANISM: Both penicillinase and beta-lactamase hydrolyze the beta-lactam ring of the antibiotic drugs, but they do so through different mechanisms.
3. Molecular weight: The molecular weights of penicillinase and beta-lactamase are approximately 50-kilo Daltons and 28.9 kDa, respectively.

In summary, penicillinase is a type of beta-lactamase that shows specificity to penicillin, while beta-lactamase is a group of enzymes produced by bacteria that develop multi-resistance to various beta-lactam antibiotics, including penicillins, cephalosporins, cephamycins, monobactams, and carbapenems.

Comparative Table: Penicillinase vs Beta Lactamase

Penicillinase and beta-lactamase are both enzymes produced by bacteria that can hydrolyze the beta-lactam ring of antibiotics, rendering them ineffective. However, there are some differences between the two:

Penicillinase is a type of beta-lactamase and was the first to be identified. It was isolated from gram-negative bacteria and was observed to be common in other bacteria after some time. Due to the widespread antibiotic resistance in bacteria, scientists developed penicillinase-resistant beta-lactam antibiotics such as methicillin. However, these antibiotics also became resistant because of the increasing number of beta-lactamases.

In summary, penicillinase is a specific enzyme that targets penicillin, while beta-lactamase is a group of enzymes that target a broader range of antibiotics, including cephalosporins, cephamycins, and monobactams. Both enzymes hydrolyze the beta-lactam ring of antibiotics, but they do so through different mechanisms.