Inhibition of glutamate racemase by substrate–product analogues

d-Glutamate is an essential biosynthetic building block of the peptidoglycans that encapsulate the bacterial cell wall. Glutamate racemase catalyzes the reversible formation of d-glutamate from l-glutamate and, hence, the enzyme is a potential therapeutic target. We show that the novel cyclic substrate–product analogue (R,S)-1-hydroxy-1-oxo-4-amino-4-carboxyphosphorinane is a modest, partial noncompetitive inhibitor of glutamate racemase from Fusobacterium nucleatum (FnGR), a pathogen responsible, in part, for periodontal disease and colorectal cancer (Ki = 3.1 ± 0.6 mM, cf. Km = 1.41 ± 0.06 mM). The cyclic substrate–product analogue (R,S)-4-amino-4-carboxy-1,1-dioxotetrahydro-thiopyran was a weak inhibitor, giving only ∼30% inhibition at a concentration of 40 mM. The related cyclic substrate–product analogue 1,1-dioxo-tetrahydrothiopyran-4-one was a cooperative mixed-type inhibitor of FnGR (Ki = 18.4 ± 1.2 mM), while linear analogues were only weak inhibitors of the enzyme. For glutamate racemase, mimicking the structure of both enantiomeric substrates (substrate–product analogues) serves as a useful design strategy for developing inhibitors. The new cyclic compounds developed in the present study may serve as potential lead compounds for further development.

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