Biochromatograms illustrating the conversion of benzylpenicillin to 6-APA

Contact photograph of paper strip biochromatograms, illustrating the conversion of benzylpenicillin to 6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APA) by the acylase enzyme of a strain of E coli, dated 2 February 1966, carried out in in Martin Cole’s laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Beecham Research Laboratories, Brockham Park

This shows the results of what would become the factory process of producing 6-APA.

Biochromatograms are an example of chromatographs which show the separation of peptides and proteins. In this example, paper strip chromatograms were laid on sheets of agar on large glass plates seeded with Bacillus sublitis and incubated overnight. The dark zones are areas of inhibited bacterial growth (i.e. clear areas letting light through to a sheet of photographic paper placed underneath and illuminated from above).

Research in 1957 by the team at Beecham Research Laboratories led to the development of several semi-synthetic penicillins. By tweaking 6 aminopenicillanic acid's chemical structure, scientists created medicines to treat a wider range of bacterial infections, with fewer side effects.

Martin Cole was a microbiologist, whose career at Beecham Research Laboratories focused on the hope of developing and using semi-synthetic penicillins, including cloxacillin and amoxicillin. He led the team which first discovered and named olivanic acids and clavulanic acid and then combined the latter with amoxicillin, to produce co-amoxiclav, brand name Augmentin.