Inhibition of Human [alpha]-Methylacyl CoA Racemase (AMACR): a Target for Prostate Cancer

The enzyme [alpha]-methylacyl CoA racemase (AMACR) is involved in the metabolism of branched-chain fatty acids and has been identified as a promising therapeutic target for prostate cancer. By using the recently available human AMACR from HEK293 kidney cell cultures, we tested a series of new rationally designed inhibitors to determine the structural requirements in the acyl component. An N-methylthiocarbamate (Ki=98nM), designed to mimic the proposed enzyme-bound enolate, was found to be the most potent AMACR inhibitor reported to date. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]