Microcystin analogues comprised only of adda and a single additional amino acid retain moderate activity as PP1/PP2A inhibitors

A series of greatly simplified microcystin analogues comprised only of Adda (the β-amino acid common to the microcystins, nodularins, and motuporin,) and a single additional amino acid residue was synthesized and screened for inhibition of the protein phosphatases 1 and 2A. Several of the analogues were shown to be mid-nanomolar inhibitors of the enzymes.