[Determination of the penicillin acylase activity of E. coli cultures using a method of gas-liquid chromatography].

Penicillinacylase activity was determined in E. coli by the product of benzylpenicillin destruction, i.e. phenylacetic acid formed under the effect of the enzyme. The determination was performed on a chromatograph. The immobile phase consisted of 10 per cent of ethylenglycol edipate on chromosorb A, modified with 2 per cent H3PO4. Nitrogen was used as the gaseous carrier. The method is rapid and handy for mass testing of the cultures with a purpose of detecting penicillinacylase-producing strains. It provided reliable determination of penicillinacylase in the cultures producing simultaneously beta-lactamase, another penicillin-destroying enzyme.