Use of electrospray mass spectrometry to investigate the inhibition of β-lactamases by 6-halogenopenicillanic acids

Abstract

Electrospray mass spectrometry has been used to investigate the mechanism of inhibition of class A and C β-lactamases by 6-halogenopenicillanic acids; in the case of the 6β-halogen substituted penicillanic acids the molecular mass differences observed between the unreacted and the inhibited β-lactamases are consistent with the formation of an enzyme bound dihydrothiazine derivative, as previously proposed.