Sedimentation-equilibrium studies on the heterogeneity of two beta-lactamases

Biochem J. 1970 Jul;118(3):467-74. doi: 10.1042/bj1180467.

Abstract

Solutions of crystalline beta-lactamase I and beta-lactamase II, prepared by Kuwabara (1970), were examined in the ultracentrifuge and their sedimentation coefficients, diffusion coefficients, molecular weights and heterogeneity determined. Each sample was shown to consist of a major component comprising at least 97% of the material and a minor component of much higher molecular weight. The molecular weights of the major components were 27800 for beta-lactamase I and 35600 for beta-lactamase II. Emphasis is placed on a straightforward practical way of analysing the sedimentation-equilibrium results on mixtures of two macromolecular components rather than on a strict theoretical solution. Appendices describe the theory of systems at both chemical and sedimentation equilibrium and the procedure for calculating the combined distribution of two components.

MeSH terms

  • Diffusion
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Models, Chemical
  • Molecular Weight
  • Penicillinase / isolation & purification*
  • Ultracentrifugation

Substances

  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Penicillinase