MecI represses synthesis from the β-lactamase operon of Staphylococcus aureus

Plasmid diploids were constructed in Staphylococcus aureus to study the effect of the repressor of methicillin resistance (MecI) on the synthesis of both beta-lactamase and the beta-lactamase repressor (BlaI). MecI-mediated repression of the synthesis of beta-lactamase was shown by reduction in the specific activity of nitrocefinase in bacteria containing a plasmid carrying mecI but not when containing the same plasmid deleted for mecI. Antisera prepared against purified MecI and against purified BlaI were used in Western blots which showed that MecI repressed the synthesis of BlaI in these diploids. The interactions between the mec operon and the bla operon are discussed.