Lactam

Lactams are a type of organic compound. They have a ring structure with a nitrogen atom next to a carbonyl. They are amides of amino acids.[1]

Reactions

Lactams react with water to make amino acids. This is a type of hydrolysis. Beta-lactamase is an enzyme that hydrolyses penicillins into penicillinoic acid.[2] This is part of how bacteria become resistant to antibiotics.


Sources

  1. ↑ International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. "Lactams". Compendium of Chemical Terminology Internet edition.
  2. ↑ Sykes, R. B.; Nordström, K. (1972). "Microiodometric Determination of β-Lactamase Activity". Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 1 (2): 94–99. doi:10.1128/AAC.1.2.94. PMC 444175. PMID 4618455.
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