Three-dimensional structures of enzymes useful for β-lactam antibiotic production

Significant advances have been made in the structure-based engineering of enzymes useful for β-lactam antibiotic production. Structure-based engineering of penicillin G acylase and cephalosporin acylase has resulted in improved enzymes for use in enzymatic production processes. The structures of many other enzymes that could be used in the production of β-lactam antibiotics, such as enzymes from the β-lactam biosynthetic pathway and β-lactam antibiotic-converting enzymes, have been determined. The interest in these structures suggests that the future may see an even more extensive use of rationally engineered biocatalysts in antibiotic production than today.