Substrate analogs for the investigation of deoxyxylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase inhibition: synthesis and evaluation

Deoxyxylulose 5-phosphate (DXP) analogs were synthesized and evaluated as alternative substrates and inhibitors of recombinant Synechocystis PCC6803 DXP reductoisomerase (DXR; EC 1.1.1.267). Five of the compounds tested (1,2-dideoxy-D-threo-3-hexulose 6-phosphate, 1-deoxy-L-ribulose 5-phosphate, 2S,3R-dihydroxybutyramide 4-phosphate, 4S-hydroxypentan-2-one 5-phosphate, and 3S-hydroxypentan-2-one 5-phosphate) acted as relatively weak competitive inhibitors when compared to fosmidomycin. A sixth compound, 3R,4S-dihydroxy-5-oxohexylphosphonic acid, served as an alternate substrate, as has recently been reported for the same compound with Escherichia coli DXR.