A new class of selective and potent inhibitors of neuronal nitric oxide synthase.

The synthesis and SAR of a series of 6-(4-(substituted)phenyl)-2-aminopyridines as inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase are described. Compound 3a from this series shows potent and selective inhibition of the human nNOS isoform, with pharmacokinetics sufficient to provide in vivo inhibition of nNOS activity.

The discovery of potent and selective dopamine D4 receptor antagonists.

The identification of a novel dopamine receptor subtype, referred to as the D4 receptor, which binds the atypical antipsychotic drug clozapine with high potency, has led to the initiation of a drug discovery program that aims to find novel inhibitors of this receptor subtype. A selective screening strategy was utilized, in which 4500 compounds chosen on the basis of structural similarities to known biogenic amine receptor antagonists were tested against both the D4 and D2 dopamine receptor subtypes. A potent D4-selective compound was discovered.

Synthesis, SAR and pharmacology of CP-293,019: a potent, selective dopamine D4 receptor antagonist.

A series of novel, potent and selective pyrido[1,2-a]pyrazine dopamine D4 receptor antagonists are reported including CP-293,019 (D4 Ki = 3.4 nM, D2 Ki > 3,310 nM), which also inhibits apomorphine-induced hyperlocomotion in rats after oral dosing.

Synthesis and oral efficacy of a 4-(butylethylamino)pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine: a centrally active corticotropin-releasing factor1 receptor antagonist.

The syntheses of a centrally active nonpeptide CRF1 receptor antagonist 2, butylethyl[2,5-dimethyl-7-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-7H-pyrrolo [2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-yl]amine (CP-154,526), and its analogs 11-14 and [3H]-2 are reported. The in vitro CRF1 receptor binding affinity in the series 2, the pharmacokinetic properties of 2 in rats, and the anxiolytic-like effects of orally administered 2 are presented.

2-Amino-4-methylpyridine as a potent inhibitor of inducible NO synthase activity in vitro and in vivo.

1. The ability of 2-amino-4-methylpyridine to inhibit the catalytic activity of the inducible NO synthase (NOS II) enzyme was characterized in vitro and in vivo. 2. In vitro, 2-amino-4-methylpyridine inhibited NOS II activity derived from mouse RAW 264.7 cells with an IC50 of 6 nM. Enzyme kinetic studies indicated that inhibition is competitive with respect to arginine. 2-Amino-4-methylpyridine was less potent on human recombinant NOS II (IC50 = 40 nM) and was still less potent on human recombinant NOS I and NOS III (IC50 = 100 nM). NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), N6-iminoethyl-L-lysine (L-NIL) and aminoguanidine were much weaker inhibitors of murine NOS II than 2-amino-4-methylpyridine but, unlike 2-amino-4-methylpyridine, retained similar activity on human recombinant NOS II. L-NMMA inhibited all three NOS isoforms with similar potency (IC50S 3-7 microM). In contrast, compared to activity on human recombinant NOS III, L-NIL displayed 10 x selectivity for murine NOS II and 11 x selectivity for human recombinant NOS II while aminoguanidine displayed 7.3 x selectivity for murine NOS II and 3.7 x selectivity for human recombinant NOS II. 3. Mouse RAW 264.7 macrophages produced high levels of nitrite when cultured overnight in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-gamma. Addition of 2-amino-4-methylpyridine at the same time as the LPS and IFN-gamma, dose-dependently reduced the levels of nitrite (IC50 = 1.5 microM) without affecting the induction of NOS II protein. Increasing the extracellular concentration of arginine decreased the potency of 2-amino-4-methylpyridine but at concentrations up to 10 microM, 2-amino-4-methylpyridine did not inhibit the uptake of [3H]-arginine into the cell. Addition of 2-amino-4-methylpyridine after the enzyme was induced also dose-dependently inhibited nitrite production. Together, these data suggest that 2-amino-4-methylpyridine reduces cellular production of NO by competitive inhibition of the catalytic activity of NOS II, in agreement with results obtained from in vitro enzyme kinetic studies. 4. When infused i.v. in conscious unrestrained rats, 2-amino-4-methylpyridine inhibited the rise in plasma nitrate produced in response to intraperitoneal injection of LPS (ID50 = 0.009 mg kg-1 min-1). Larger doses of 2-amino-4-methylpyridine were required to raise mean arterial pressure in untreated conscious rats (ED50 = 0.060 mg kg-1 min-1) indicating 6.9 x selectivity for NOS II over NOS III in vivo. Under the same conditions, L-NMMA was nonselective while L-NIL and aminoguanidine displayed 5.2 x and 8.6 x selectivity respectively. All of these compounds caused significant increases in mean arterial pressure at doses above the ID50 for inhibition of NOS II activity in vivo. 5. 2-Amino-4-methylpyridine also inhibited LPS-induced elevation in plasma nitrate after either subcutaneous (ID50 = 0.3 mg kg-1) or oral (ID50 = 20.8 mg kg-1) administration. 6. These data indicate that 2-amino-4-methylpyridine is a potent inhibitor of NOS II activity in vitro and in vivo with a similar degree of isozyme selectivity to that of L-NIL and aminoguanidine in rodents.

Posttranslational amino acid epimerization: enzyme-catalyzed isomerization of amino acid residues in peptide chains.

Since ribosomally mediated protein biosynthesis is confined to the L-amino acid pool, the presence of D-amino acids in peptides was considered for many years to be restricted to proteins of prokaryotic origin. Unicellular microorganisms have been responsible for the generation of a host of D-amino acid-containing peptide antibiotics (gramicidin, actinomycin, bacitracin, polymyxins). Recently, a series of mu and delta opioid receptor agonists [dermorphins and deltorphins] and neuroactive tetrapeptides containing a D-amino acid residue have been isolated from amphibian (frog) skin and mollusks. Amino acid sequences obtained from the cDNA libraries coincide with the observed dermorphin and deltorphin sequences, suggesting a stereospecific posttranslational amino acid isomerization of unknown mechanism. A cofactor-independent serine isomerase found in the venom of the Agelenopsis aperta spider provides the first major clue to explain how multicellular organisms are capable of incorporating single D-amino acid residues into these and other eukaryotic peptides. The enzyme is capable of isomerizing serine, cysteine, O-methylserine, and alanine residues in the middle of peptide chains, thereby providing a biochemical capability that, until now, had not been observed. Both D- and L-amino acid residues are susceptible to isomerization. The substrates share a common Leu-Xaa-Phe-Ala recognition site. Early in the reaction sequence, solvent-derived deuterium resides solely with the epimerized product (not substrate) in isomerizations carried out in 2H2O. Significant deuterium isotope effects are obtained in these reactions in addition to isomerizations of isotopically labeled substrates (2H at the epimerizeable serine alpha-carbon atom). The combined kinetic and structural data suggests a two-base mechanism in which abstraction of a proton from one face is concomitant with delivery from the opposite face by the conjugate acid of the second enzymic base.

Inhibition of Helicobacter pylori urease by phenyl phosphorodiamidates: mechanism of action.

Helicobacter pylori urease is a nickel-containing enzyme that hydrolyzes urea to bicarbonate and ammonia. Andrews et al. (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1986, 108, 7124) have shown that amides and esters of phosphoric acid are slow, tight-binding inhibitors of urease isolated from jack bean. We show that 4-substituted phenyl phosphorodiamidates (4-R-PhOP(=O)(NH2)2) are slow-binding inhibitors of H. pylori urease with no evidence of kinetic saturation. Their second-order rates of inhibition ki are strongly correlated with phenol pKa (e.g. R = NO2, ki = 2.5 x 10(5) M-1s-1; R = OMe, ki = 1.2 x 10(4) M-1s-1). The Bronsted beta for inhibition is 0.4, similar to that of model system SN2(P) reactions. Based on these observations, we suggest that urease inhibition is covalent but reversible, involving a common phosphoacyl enzyme intermediate.

Novel inhibitors of prolyl endopeptidase: effects of stereochemistry.

Prolyl endopeptidase is a serine protease that specifically cleaves peptides on the carboxyl side of proline residues. We have show that racemic 2-(2-formyl-pyrrolidine-1-carbonyl)-2,3-dihydro-indole-1-carboxylic acid benzyl ester (IP), racemic trans-2-(2-formyl-pyrrolidine-1-carbonyl-1-cyclohexane-carboxylic acid benzyl ester (cis-CP) are slow binding inhibitors of mouse brain prolyl endopeptidase with Ki values of 0.35, 2.4, and 3 nM, respectively. In order to determine whether IP and trans/cis-CP are stereoselective in their inhibition profile, five stereoisomers were synthesized and tested for inhibition. Kinetic analysis indicates that the 2S, 2'S-isomer is necessary for inhibition by racemic IP. trans/cis-CP also requires S-stereochemistry on two of its three chiral centres; the third can be either R or S. This suggests that our novel, non-peptide inhibitors bind at the same site as peptide inhibitors which require L-configuration at the P1 and P2 binding pockets.

Beryllium competitively inhibits brain myo-inositol monophosphatase, but unlike lithium does not enhance agonist-induced inositol phosphate accumulation.

Despite limiting side-effects, lithium is the drug of choice for the treatment of bipolar depression. Its action may be due, in part, to its ability to dampen phosphatidylinositol turnover by inhibiting myo-inositol monophosphatase. Beryllium has been identified as a potent inhibitor of partially purified myo-inositol monophosphatase isolated from rat brain (Ki = 150 nM), bovine brain (Ki = 35 nM), and from the human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-SH (Ki = 85 nM). It is over three orders of magnitude more potent than LiCl (Ki = 0.5-1.2 mM). Kinetic analysis reveals that beryllium is a competitive inhibitor of myo-inositol monophosphatase, in contrast with lithium which is an uncompetitive inhibitor. Inhibition of exogenous [3H]inositol phosphate hydrolysis by beryllium (IC50 = 250-300 nM) was observed to the same maximal extent as that seen with lithium in permeabilized SK-N-SH cells, reflecting inhibition of cellular myo-inositol monophosphatase. However, in contrast with that observed with lithium, agonist-induced accumulation of inositol phosphate was not observed with beryllium in permeabilized and non-permeabilized SK-N-SH cells and in rat brain slices. Similar results were obtained in permeabilized SK-N-SH cells when GTP-gamma-S was used as an alternative stimulator of inositol phosphate accumulation. The disparity in the actions of beryllium and lithium suggest that either (1) selective inhibition of myo-inositol monophosphatase does not completely explain the action of lithium on the phosphatidylinositol cycle, or (2) that uncompetitive inhibition of myo-inositol monophosphatase is a necessary requirement to observe functional lithium mimetic activity.

Slow tight-binding inhibition of prolyl endopeptidase by benzyloxycarbonyl-prolyl-prolinal.

Prolyl endopeptidase is a serine proteinase that specifically cleaves peptides on the carboxy side of proline residues. Wilk & Orlowski [(1983) J. Neurochem. 41, 69-75] have shown that benzyloxycarbonyl-prolyl-prolinal (Z-prolyl-prolinal) is a potent inhibitor of prolyl endopeptidase. We show that Z-prolyl-prolinal is a slow-binding inhibitor of mouse brain prolyl endopeptidase with Ki 0.35 +/- 0.05 nM. Kinetic analysis indicates that the mechanism is a simple, but slow, reversible equilibrium between free and bound enzyme (E + I in equilibrium EI) with rate constants for association (kon) and dissociation (koff) of 1.6 X 10(5) M-1.s-1 and approx. 4 X 10(-5) s-1 respectively. Slow-binding inhibition is dependent on the presence of the aldehyde group since the alcohol (Z-prolyl-prolinol) is a rapid and 50,000-fold poorer inhibitor (Ki 19 microM). Prolyl endopeptidase from human brain is also inhibited by Z-prolyl-prolinal with kinetics similar to those of the mouse brain enzyme.

Subcloning, expression, and purification of the enterobactin biosynthetic enzyme 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate-AMP ligase: demonstration of enzyme-bound (2,3-dihydroxybenzoyl)adenylate product.

The gene coding for the enzyme 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate-AMP ligase (2,3DHB-AMP ligase), responsible for activating 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid in the biosynthesis of the siderophore enterobactin, has been subcloned into the multicopy plasmid pKK223-3 and overproduced in a strain of Escherichia coli. The protein is an alpha 2 dimer with subunit molecular mass of 59 kDa. The enzyme catalyzes the exchange of [32P]pyrophosphate with ATP, dependent upon aromatic substrate with a turnover number of 340 min-1. The enzyme also releases pyrophosphate upon incubation with 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid and ATP; an initial burst corresponding to 0.7 nmol of pyrophosphate released per nanomole of enzyme is followed by a slower, continuous release with a turnover number of 0.41 min-1. The 1000-fold difference in rates observed between ATP-pyrophosphate exchange and continuous pyrophosphate release, as well as the close to stoichiometric amount of pyrophosphate released, suggests that intermediates are accumulating on the enzyme surface. Such intermediates have been observed and correspond to enzyme-bond (2,3-dihydroxybenzoyl)adenylate product.

(1-Aminoethyl)boronic acid: a novel inhibitor for Bacillus stearothermophilus alanine racemase and Salmonella typhimurium D-alanine:D-alanine ligase (ADP-forming).

(1-Aminoethyl)boronic acid (Ala-B), an analogue of alanine in which a boronic acid group replaces the carboxyl group, has been synthesized and found to inhibit the first two enzymes, alanine racemase (from Bacillus stearothermophilus, EC 5.1.1.1) and D-alanine:D-alanine ligase (ADP-forming) (from Salmonella typhimurium, EC 6.3.2.4), of the D-alanine branch of bacterial peptidoglycan biosynthesis. In both cases, time-dependent, slow binding inhibition is observed due to the generation of long-lived, slowly dissociating complexes. Ala-B inhibits alanine racemase with a Ki of 20 mM and a kappa inact of 0.15-0.35 min-1. Time-dependent loss of activity is paralleled by conversion of the 420-nm chromophore of initial bound PLP aldimine to a 324-nm absorbing species. On dilution of Ala-B, racemase activity is regained with a t1/2 of ca. 1 h. The D-Ala-D-Ala ligase also shows progressive inhibition by Ala-B provided ATP (but not AMP-PNP or AMP-PCP) is present. The presence of D-alanine along with ATP also leads to Ala-B-induced inactivation. Kinetic analysis suggests Ala-B can compete with D-alanine at either of the two D-alanine binding sites, and on inactivation with Ala-B, labeled D-alanine, and labeled ATP, the inactive enzyme has stoichiometric amounts of D-alanine, ADP, Pi, and Ala-B bound. The half-life of inactive enzyme complexes varied from approximately 2 h (without D-alanine) to 4.5 days (with D-alanine). No D-Ala-D-Ala-B dipeptide was detected.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Mechanism of inactivation of alanine racemase by beta, beta, beta-trifluoroalanine.

The alanine racemases are a group of PLP-dependent bacterial enzymes that catalyze the racemization of alanine, providing D-alanine for cell wall synthesis. Inactivation of the alanine racemases from the Gram-negative organism Salmonella typhimurium and Gram-positive organism Bacillus stearothermophilus with beta, beta, beta-trifluoroalanine has been studied. The inactivation occurs with the same rate constant as that for formation of a broad 460-490-nm chromophore. Loss of two fluoride ions per mole of inactivated enzyme and retention of [1-14C]trifluoroalanine label accompany inhibition, suggesting a monofluoro enzyme adduct. Partial denaturation (1 M guanidine) leads to rapid return of the initial 420-nm chromophore, followed by a slower (t1/2 approximately 30 min-1 h) loss of the fluoride ion and 14CO2 release. At this point, reduction by NaB3H4 and tryptic digestion yield a single radiolabeled peptide. Purification and sequencing of the peptide reveals that lysine-38 is covalently attached to the PLP cofactor. A mechanism for enzyme inactivation by trifluoroalanine is proposed and contrasted with earlier results on monohaloalanines, in which nucleophilic attack of released aminoacrylate on the PLP aldimine leads to enzyme inactivation. For trifluoroalanine inactivation, nucleophilic attack of lysine-38 on the electrophilic beta-difluoro-alpha, beta-unsaturated imine provides an alternative mode of inhibition for these enzymes.

Inhibition of alanine racemase by alanine phosphonate: detection of an imine linkage to pyridoxal 5'-phosphate in the enzyme-inhibitor complex by solid-state 15N nuclear magnetic resonance.

Inhibition of alanine racemase from the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus stearothermophilus by (1-aminoethyl) phosphonic acid (Ala-P) proceeds via a two-step reaction pathway in which reactivation occurs very slowly. In order to determine the mechanism of inhibition, we have recorded low-temperature, solid-state 15N NMR spectra from microcrystals of the [15N]Ala-P-enzyme complex, together with spectra of a series of model compounds that provide the requisite database for the interpretation of the 15N chemical shifts. Proton-decoupled spectra of the microcrystals exhibit a line at approximately 150 ppm, which conclusively demonstrates the presence of a protonated Ala-P-PLP aldimine and thus clarifies the structure of the enzyme-inhibitor complex. We also report the pH dependence of Ala-P binding to alanine racemase.

Racemization of alanine by the alanine racemases from Salmonella typhimurium and Bacillus stearothermophilus: energetic reaction profiles.

Alanine racemases are bacterial pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) dependent enzymes providing D-alanine as an essential building block for biosynthesis of the peptidoglycan layer of the cell wall. Two isozymic alanine racemases, encoded by the dadB gene and the alr gene, from the Gram-negative mesophilic Salmonella typhimurium and one from the Gram-positive thermophilic Bacillus stearothermophilus have been examined for the racemization mechanism. Substrate deuterium isotope effects and solvent deuterium isotope effects have been measured in both L----D and D----L directions for all three enzymes to assess the degree to which abstraction of the alpha-proton or protonation of substrate PLP carbanion is limiting in catalysis. Additionally, experiments measuring internal return of alpha-3H from substrate to product and solvent exchange/substrate conversion experiments in 3H2O have been used with each enzyme to examine the partitioning of substrate PLP carbanion intermediates and to obtain the relative heights of kinetically significant energy barriers in alanine racemase catalysis.

Nucleophilic re-activation of the PC1 beta-lactamase of Staphylococcus aureus and of the DD-peptidase of Streptomyces R61 after their inactivation by cephalosporins and cephamycins.

It has been shown previously [Faraci & Pratt (1985) Biochemistry 24, 903-910; (1986) Biochemistry 25, 2934-2941; (1986) Biochem. J. 238, 309-312] that certain beta-lactam-processing enzymes form inert acyl-enzymes with cephems that possess good leaving groups at the C-3' position. These inert species arise by elimination of the leaving group from the initially formed and more rapidly hydrolysing acyl-enzyme, which has the 'normal' cephalosporoate structure. The present paper shows that a strong nucleophile, thiophenoxide, can catalyse the re-activation of three examples of these inert acyl-enzymes, generated on reaction of cephalothin and cefoxitin with the PC1 beta-lactamase of Staphylococcus aureus and of cephalothin with D-alanyl-D-alanine transpeptidase/carboxypeptidase of Streptomyces R61. In view of the reversibility of the elimination reaction, demonstrated in model systems [Pratt & Faraci (1986) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 108, 5328-5333], this catalysis is proposed to arise through nucleophilic addition to the exo-methylene carbon atom of the inert acyl-enzyme to regenerate a more rapidly hydrolysing normal cephalosporoate. Strong support for this scenario was obtained through comparison of the kinetics of the catalysed re-activation reaction with those of turnover of the relevant 3'-thiophenoxycephems, thiophenoxycephalothin and thiophenoxycefoxitin. The enzymes appear to stabilize the products of the elimination reaction with respect to the normal cephalosporoate, but more strongly to destabilize the transition states. The effects of other nucleophiles, including cysteine, glycine amide and imidazole, on the above enzymes and on other beta-lactamases can be understood in terms of the model reaction kinetics and thermodynamics.

Interactions of cephalosporins with the Streptomyces R61 DD-transpeptidase/carboxypeptidase. Influence of the 3'-substituent.

The influence and fate of the 3'-substituent of a series of cephalosporins on their interaction with the DD-transpeptidase/carboxypeptidase of Streptomyces R61 were investigated. Good 3'-leaving groups are eliminated from the acyl-enzyme before deacylation, and hence cephalosporins with such substituents generate a common covalent intermediate. The rate of this elimination reaction in the two cases studied in detail was much lower than from the corresponding cephalosporoates in free solution. Cephalosporins without good 3'-leaving groups yield acyl-enzymes that appear to hydrolyse, leading to enzyme re-activation, faster than those from cephalosporins with leaving groups.

Mechanism of inhibition of RTEM-2 beta-lactamase by cephamycins: relative importance of the 7 alpha-methoxy group and the 3' leaving group.

Cefoxitin is a poor substrate of many beta-lactamases, including the RTEM-2 enzyme. Fisher and co-workers [Fisher, J., Belasco, J. G., Khosla, S., & Knowles, J. R. (1980) Biochemistry 19, 2895-2901] showed that the reaction between cefoxitin and RTEM-2 beta-lactamase yielded a moderately stable acyl-enzyme whose hydrolysis was rate-determining to turnover at saturation. The present work shows first that the covalently bound substrate in this acyl-enzyme has a 5-exo-methylene-1,3-thiazine structure, i.e., that the good (carbamoyloxy) 3' leaving group of cefoxitin has been eliminated in formation of the acyl-enzyme. Such an elimination has recently been shown in another case to yield an acyl-beta-lactamase inert to hydrolysis [Faraci, W. S., & Pratt, R. F. (1985) Biochemistry 24, 903-910]. Thus the cefoxitin molecule has two potential sources of beta-lactamase resistance, the 7 alpha-methoxy group and the good 3' leaving group. That the latter is important in the present example is shown by the fact that with analogous substrates where no elimination occurs at the enzyme active site, such as 3'-de(carbamoyloxy)cefoxitin and 3'-decarbamoylcefoxitin, no inert acyl-enzyme accumulates. An analysis of the relevant rate constants shows that the 7 alpha-methoxy group weakens noncovalent binding and slows down both acylation and deacylation rates, but with major effect in the acylation rate, while elimination of the 3' leaving group affects deacylation only.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Mechanism of inhibition of the PC1 beta-lactamase of Staphylococcus aureus by cephalosporins: importance of the 3'-leaving group.

The hydrolysis of cephalosporins containing good leaving groups at the 3'-position [those used in this study were the chromogenic cephalosporin PADAC [pyridine-2-azo-4'-(N',N'-dimethylaniline) substituted on cephalosporin], cephaloridine, and cephalothin], catalyzed by the Staphylococcus aureus PC1 beta-lactamase, proceeds in two spectrophotometrically observable phases. The first involves formation of an acyl-enzyme intermediate while the second involves partitioning of this intermediate between two pathways. One path yields the normal cephalosporoate (3) from which the 3'-leaving group is spontaneously eliminated in solution to give the 3-methylenedihydrothiazine 2, while the second involves initial elimination of the 3' substituent, thus yielding a second acyl-enzyme intermediate, which then hydrolyzes to give the same final product as from the first pathway. The second acyl-enzyme is relatively inert to hydrolysis (t1/2 congruent to 10 min at 20 degrees C), and its formation thus leads to transient inhibition of the enzyme. The partition ratio between hydrolysis and elimination at the enzyme active site could be determined either spectrophotometrically from burst experiments or from measurements of residual beta-lactamase activity as a function of cephalosporin concentration. This ratio varied with the leaving group ability of the 3' substituent (acetoxy greater than N,N-dimethylaniline-4-azo-2'-pyridinium greater than pyridinium) in the anticipated fashion. The inert acyl-enzyme intermediate was isolated by exclusion chromatography and shown to contain the cephem nucleus, but not the 3' substituent, covalently bound to the enzyme. As would be expected, PADAC, cephaloridine, and cephalothin yielded the same inert intermediate. Cephalosporins with poor or no 3'-leaving groups, e.g., dansylcephalothin and desacetoxycephalothin, neither displayed the branched pathway nor yielded the long-lived acyl-enzyme.

A direct spectrophotometric assay for D-alanine carboxypeptidases and for the esterase activity of beta-lactamases.

A direct spectrophotometric pH indicator method has been devised to assay the activity of the D-Ala carboxypeptidase/transpeptidase of Streptomyces R61, and which should be of general application to D-Ala carboxypeptidases. The substrate employed is N,N'-diacetyl-L-lysyl-D-alanyl-D-lactate. The method allows the determination of steady-state kinetic parameters, and can also be used for the assay of the esterase activity of beta-lactamases against specific depsipeptides.