omega-Fluoromethyl analogues of omega-amino acids as irreversible inhibitors of 4-aminobutyrate:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase.

omega-Monofluoromethyl and omega-difluoromethyl analogues of the known substrates of GABA-T, beta-alanine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, and 5-aminopentanoic acid, are time-dependent inhibitors of purified 4-aminobutyrate: 2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase (GABA-T). The inhibitory activity decreases with increasing chain length. In vitro, inhibitory activity decreases with increasing fluorine substitution of the methyl group. In vivo, beta-difluoromethyl-beta-alanine and 2,4-difluoro-3-aminobutyric acid are the most potent GABA-T inhibitors ever reported. Trifluoromethyl derivatives are devoid of GABA-T inhibitory activity in vitro or in vivo.