Transition-state analogs as inhibitors of human and malarial hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferases

The proposed transition state for hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferases (HGPRTs) has been used to design and synthesize powerful inhibitors that contain features of the transition state. The iminoribitols (1 S )-1-(9-deazahypoxanthin-9-yl)-1,4-dideoxy-1, 4-imino-D-ribitol 5-phosphate (immucillinHP) and (1 S )-1-(9-deazaguanin-9-yl)-1,4-dideoxy-1, 4-imino-D-ribitol 5-phosphate (immucillinGP) are the most powerful inhibitors yet reported for both human and malarial HGPRTs. Equilibrium binding constants are >1,000-fold tighter than the binding of the nucleotide substrate. The NMR spectrum of malaria HGXPRT in the Michaelis complex reveals downfield hydrogen-bonded protons. The chemical shifts move farther downfield with bound inhibitor. The inhibitors are lead compounds for species-specific antibiotics against parasitic protozoa. The high-resolution crystal structure of human HGPRT with immucillinGP is reported in the companion paper.