Cinnamic acid derivatives as inhibitors for chorismatases and isochorismatases

Chorismatases and isochorismatases catalyse the hydrolysis of chorismate or isochorismate leading to unsaturated cyclohexenoic acid derivatives. Based on simplification of the physiological substrates, two cinnamic acid-derived compounds, differing in the saturation of the side chain, were developed. In contrast to earlier inhibitor studies, the compounds described here do not have an ether bond and therefore can be synthesised very easily in one or two steps without the need for protective groups. Both substances demonstrate inhibition of the isochorismatase EntB from Escherichia coli and the chorismatases FkbO and Hyg5 from Streptomyces. For chorismatases, the unsaturated compound shows IC₅₀ values in the millimolar range, while the saturated compound is the better inhibitor with IC₅₀ values in the micromolar/low millimolar range; for the isochorismatase tested both compounds inhibit in the micromolar range. Further, an analysis of the apparent K_m values for FkbO and EntB was performed, showing that both inhibitors act in a competitive manner. Due to the ease of modifying these new inhibitors they are a suitable starting point for exploring further functionalised derivatives.