Zinc(II)-mediated inhibition of a ribonuclease by an N-hydroxyurea nucleotide

The inhibition of ribonuclease Bi by 3′-N-hydroxyurea-3′-deoxythymidine 5′-phosphate is enhanced by 30-fold in the presence of Zn2+. Thus, an N-hydroxyurea nucleotide can recruit Zn2+ to inhibit the enzymatic activity of a ribonuclease. This result engenders a general strategy for the inhibition of non-metalloenzymes by metal complexes.