Synthesis and biological evaluation of new inhibitors of UDP-Galf transferase--a key enzyme in M. tuberculosis cell wall biosynthesis.

Two iminosugars have been designed and synthesized as potential inhibitors of UDP-Galf transferase, an enzyme involved in Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell wall biosynthesis. The design is based on a proposed model of the transition state for the transferase reaction. One of the two racemic compounds is the first reported inhibitor of the target enzyme from M. smegmatis. Copyright 2004 The Royal Society of Chemistry