To characterize the naturally occurring expanded-spectrum β-lactamase from an Escherichia coli clinical isolate and to compare it with a wild-type β-lactamase.

The chromosome-borne ampC genes from E. coli BER and E. coli EC2 were PCR amplified, sequenced and cloned into an expression vector. Antimicrobial susceptibilities of the parental isolate and the recombinant strains were determined by agar dilution methods. Kinetic parameters were determined from purified AmpC BER and AmpC EC2.

AmpC BER was overexpressed in its original clinical isolate because of mutations in the promoter region of its gene at positions −42 and −18. The analysis of the ampC coding sequence revealed a 6 bp insertion when compared with the wild-type sequence leading to the tandem duplication of two alanine residues inside the H-10 helix. AmpC BER-producing recombinants were resistant to ceftazidime, had reduced susceptibility to other oxyiminocephalosporins (cefotaxime and cefepime), but had a greater susceptibility to cefoxitin when compared with the recombinant expressing the wild-type β-lactamase AmpC EC2. The affinity of AmpC BER for cephalosporins and imipenem was increased, whereas the hydrolysis rate was decreased for all these compounds. In addition, the IC₅₀ values of clavulanic acid and tazobactam for AmpC BER were increased.

This work sheds new light on structure–function relationships of expanded-spectrum AmpC β-lactamases.