Design and synthesis of 6-(6-D-ribitylamino-2,4-dihydroxypyrimidin-5-yl)-1-hexylphosphonic acid, a potent inhibitor of lumazine synthase

A novel inhibitor of lumazine synthase, the penulrimate enzyme in the biosy nthesis of riboflavin, has been synthesized. The inhibitor was designed by computer graphics molecular modeling using a hypothetical structure of the enzyme-inhibitor complex. The new compound is relatively potent when compar ed with the known inhibitors, and displays a K-I of 109 mu M. (C) 1998 Else vier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.