Design and synthesis of potent "sulfur-free" transition state analogue inhibitors of 5'-methylthioadenosine nucleosidase and 5'-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase.

5'-Methylthioadenosine/S-adenosylhomocysteine nucleosidase (MTAN) is a dual substrate bacterial enzyme involved in S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) related quorum sensing pathways that regulates virulence in many bacterial species. MTANs from many bacteria are directly involved in the quorum sensing mechanism by regulating the synthesis of autoinducer molecules that are used by bacterial communities to communicate. In humans, 5'-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) is involved in polyamine biosynthesis as well as in purine and SAM salvage pathways and thus has been identified as an anticancer target. Previously we have described the synthesis and biological activity of several aza-C-nucleoside mimics with a sulfur atom at the 5' position that are potent E. coli MTAN and human MTAP inhibitors. Because of the possibility that the sulfur may affect bioavailability, we were interested in synthesizing "sulfur-free" analogues. Herein we describe the preparation of a series of "sulfur-free" transition state analogue inhibitors of E. coli MTAN and human MTAP that have low nano- to picomolar dissociation constants and are potentially novel bacterial anti-infective and anticancer drug candidates.