Fluorescent substrate analog for monitoring chain elongation by undecaprenyl pyrophosphate synthase in real time.

Farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) is a common substrate for a variety of prenyltransferases for synthesizing isoprenoid compounds. In this study, (2E,6E)-8-O-(N-methyl-2-aminobenzoyl)-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octandien-1-pyrophosphate (MANT-O-GPP), a fluorescent analog of FPP, was synthesized and demonstrated as a satisfactory substrate for Escherichia coli undecaprenyl pyrophosphate synthase (UPPS) with a K(m) of 1.5 μM and a k(cat) of 1.2s(-1) based on [(14)C]IPP consumption. Interesting, we found that its emission fluorescence intensity at 420 nm increased remarkably during chain elongation, thereby useful for real-time monitoring kinetics of UPPS to yield a K(m) of 1.1 μM and a k(cat) of 1.0 s(-1), consistent with those measured using radiolabeled substrate. Using this assay, the IC(50) of a known UPPS inhibitor farnesyl thiopyrophosphate (FsPP) was confirmed. Our studies provide a convenient and environmentally friendly alternative for kinetics and inhibition studies on UPPS drug target.