Structure and Conformations of Gaba-Transaminase Inhibitors. I. Multisubstrate Analogs

Two multisubstrate analogues of the transition state in the reaction catalysed by the enzyme GABA- transaminase (E.C. 2.6.1.19), sulfonic acid pyridoxal dervative , C10H16N2O5S (1) and carboxylic acid pyridoxal derivative, C13H18N2O4 (2), have been characterized by X-ray analyses of crystals of (1). HCl , (1).H2O and (2). HCl . In each structure, the nitrogen on the side chain is the donor in intramolecular hydrogen bonding. However, it is only in (2). HCl that this interaction is with the phenolic oxygen as postulated in the proposed transition state of the reaction catalysed by GABA- transaminase . For both structures of (1), on the other hand, this interaction is with the oxygen of the ring hydroxymethyl substituent, and results in a seven- membered ring. Conformational analysis indicates that both modes of hydrogen bonding may be present in the pyridoxal derivatives, although no quantitative assessment is possible at the MINDO/3 or MNDO levels. Simple classical potential energy calculations indicate significant structural differences between the lowest energy conformations of these compounds and the calculated transition state. However, conformations which match the key features of the transition state are also relatively low in energy.