1.85 Å Resolution Structure of the Zinc^II β-Lactamase from Bacillus cereus

Class B -lactamases are wide spectrum enzymes which require bivalent metal ions for activity. The structure of the class B zinc-ion-dependent β-lactamase from Bacillus cereus (BCII) has been refined at 1.85 Å resolution using data collected on cryocooled crystals (100 K). The enzyme from B. cereus has a molecular mass of 24 946 Da and is folded into a -sandwich structure with helices on the external faces. The active site is located in a groove running between the two -sheets [Carfi et al. (1995). EMBO J. 14, 4914–4921]. The 100 K high-resolution BCII structure shows one fully and one partially occupied zinc site. The zinc ion in the fully occupied site (the catalytic zinc) is coordinated by three histidines and one water molecule. The second zinc ion is at 3.7 Å from the first one and is coordinated by one histidine, one cysteine, one aspartate and one unknown molecule (which is most likely to be a carbonate ion). In the B. cereus zinc -lactamase the affinity for the second metal ion is low at the pH of crystallization (K_d = 25 mM, 293 K; [Baldwin et al. (1978). Biochem. J. 175, 441–447] and the dissociation constant of the second zinc ion thus apparently decreased at the cryogenic temperature. In addition, the structure of the apo enzyme was determined at 2.5 Å resolution. The removal of the zinc ion by chelating agents causes small changes in the active-site environment.