LACTAMASE Meaning and
Definition
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Lactamase is an enzyme that plays a crucial role in antibiotic resistance. It is a type of beta-lactamase, specifically designed to hydrolyze (or break down) beta-lactam antibiotics such as penicillins, cephalosporins, and carbapenems. These antibiotics contain a beta-lactam ring in their chemical structure, which targets and inhibits the growth of bacteria by interfering with their cell wall synthesis.
However, bacteria have developed various mechanisms to survive the presence of beta-lactam antibiotics, and one of them involves producing lactamases. Lactamases are produced by bacteria as a defense mechanism to protect themselves from the harmful effects of beta-lactam antibiotics. These enzymes catalyze the hydrolysis of the beta-lactam ring, rendering the antibiotic inactive and thus ineffective in killing the bacteria.
Lactamases are categorized into different classes and variants based on their amino acid sequence and substrate specificity. Some examples include penicillinases, cephalosporinases, and carbapenemases. The diversity of lactamases contributes to the wide range of antibiotic resistance observed in bacteria.
Understanding and combating lactamase production and activity are crucial in the development of effective strategies to combat antibiotic resistance. Researchers focus on studying the structure, function, and evolution of lactamases to identify potential targets for the development of new antibiotics or inhibitors that can restore the activity of beta-lactam antibiotics against resistant bacteria.
Common Misspellings for LACTAMASE
- kactamase
- pactamase
- oactamase
- lzctamase
- lsctamase
- lwctamase
- lqctamase
- laxtamase
- lavtamase
- laftamase
- ladtamase
- lacramase
- lacfamase
- lacgamase
- lacyamase
- lac6amase
- lac5amase
- lactzmase
- lactsmase
- lactwmase
Etymology of LACTAMASE
The word "lactamase" is derived from two main components: "lactam" and the suffix "-ase".
1. Lactam: The term "lactam" originates from the Latin word "lactis", meaning milk. It refers to a cyclic amide compound that shares a common structural core with lactose, the sugar found in milk. Lactams are a group of organic compounds characterized by the presence of a lactam ring, which consists of one nitrogen atom and one carbon atom forming a cyclic structure.
2. -ase: The suffix "-ase" is commonly used in biochemistry to denote enzymes, which are proteins that catalyze specific chemical reactions. This suffix is derived from the Greek word "asis", meaning enzyme.
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