Conformationally constrained diketopimelic acid analogues as inhibitors of dihydrodipicolinate synthase.

Dihydrodipicolinate synthase (DHDPS) is a key enzyme in lysine biosynthesis and a potential antibiotic target. The enzyme catalyses the condensation of (S)-aspartate semi-aldehyde (ASA) and pyruvate to form dihydrodipicolinate. Constrained diketopimelic acid derivatives have been designed as mimics of the acyclic enzyme-bound condensation product of ASA and pyruvate. Several of the compounds are shown to be active, slow-binding inhibitors with improved inhibition of DHDPS.