A search for beta-lactamase in chlamydiae, mycoplasmas, planctomycetes, and cyanelles: Bacteria and bacterial descendants at different phylogenetic positions and stages of cell wall development

Bacteria from different phylogenetic positions such as chlamydiae, mycoplas mas, planctomycetes and also endosymbiotic murein-containing cyanelles were investigated for the production of beta-lactamases. No beta-lactamase acti vity was found in bacteria lacking murein such as Chlamydia pneumoniae, Myc oplasma pneumoniae, Pirellula marina and Planctomyces maris. In the murein- containing cyanelles of Cyanophora paradoxa no beta-lactamase activity coul d be detected.