Lactam

Skeletal formulas of some simple lactams.

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. ↑ IUPAC, Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. (the "Gold Book") (2025). Online version: (2006–) "Lactams". doi:10.1351/goldbook.L03435
  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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