This research is a fundamental biochemical engineering study on the purification, biochemical characterization, and the reaction kinetics and mechanisms of enzymes involved in the biosyntheses of beta-lactam antibiotics. The overall biochemical characteristics and basic reaction kinetics and mechanisms of those enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of beta-lactam antibiotics and further apply the knowledge base to be acquired from this research to the improvement of fermentation process and/or development of new and direct in-vitro enzymatic processes for production of existing and novel beta-lactam antibiotics derivatives. During the initial phase of the research, efforts will focus on the purification and characterization of those key enzymes involved in the ring formation and ring expansion reactions of beta-lactam antibiotics.
