Mono- and dialkyl isoprenoid bisphosphonates as geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase inhibitors

Nitrogenous bisphosphonates are used clinically to reduce bone resorption associated with osteoporosis or metastatic bone disease, and are recognized as inhibitors of farnesyl diphosphate synthase. Inhibition of this enzyme decreases cellular levels of both farnesyl diphosphate and geranylgeranyl diphosphate which results in a variety of downstream biological effects including inhibition of protein geranylgeranylation. Our lab recently has prepared several isoprenoid bisphosphonates that inhibit protein geranylgeranylation and showed that one selectively inhibits geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase. This results in depletion of intracellular geranylgeranyl diphosphate and impacts protein geranylgeranylation but does not affect protein farnesylation. To clarify the structural features of isoprenoid bisphosphonates that account for their geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase inhibition, we have prepared a new group of isoprenoid bisphosphonates. The complete set of compounds has been tested for in vitro inhibition of human recombinant geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase and cellular inhibition of protein geranylgeranylation. These results show some surprising relationships between in vitro and cellular activity, and will guide development of clinical agents directed at geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase.