Biochemical Characterization of SFC-1, a Class A Carbapenem-Hydrolyzing β-Lactamase

The carbapenem-hydrolyzing β-lactamase SFC-1 from Serratia fonticola UTAD54 was overexpressed in Escherichia coli, purified, and characterized. The enzyme exhibited an apparent molecular mass of 30.5 kDa, determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. SFC-1 hydrolyzes penicillins, cephalosporins, aztreonam, and carbapenems and is inhibited by clavulanic acid, sulbactam, and tazobactam.