Double-headed sulfur-linked amino acids as first inhibitors for betaine-homocysteine S-methyltransferase 2

J Med Chem. 2012 Aug 9;55(15):6822-31. doi: 10.1021/jm300571h. Epub 2012 Jul 18.

Abstract

Betaine-homocysteine S-methyltransferase 2 (BHMT-2) catalyzes the transfer of a methyl group from S-methylmethionine to l-homocysteine, yielding two molecules of l-methionine. It is one of three homocysteine methyltransferases in mammals, but its overall contribution to homocysteine remethylation and sulfur amino acid homeostasis is not known. Moreover, recombinant BHMT-2 is highly unstable, which has slowed research on its structural and catalytic properties. In this study, we have prepared the first series of BHMT-2 inhibitors to be described, and we have tested them with human recombinant BHMT-2 that has been stabilized by copurification with human recombinant BHMT. Among the compounds synthesized, (2S,8RS,11RS)-5-thia-2,11-diamino-8-methyldodecanedioic acid (11) was the most potent (K(i)(app) ∼77 nM) and selective inhibitor of BHMT-2. Compound 11 only weakly inhibited human BHMT (IC(50) about 77 μM). This compound (11) may be useful in future in vivo studies to probe the physiological significance of BHMT-2 in sulfur amino acid metabolism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Betaine-Homocysteine S-Methyltransferase / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Betaine-Homocysteine S-Methyltransferase / chemistry
  • Enzyme Assays
  • Homocysteine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Homocysteine / chemical synthesis
  • Homocysteine / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Kinetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Sulfides / chemical synthesis*
  • Sulfides / chemistry

Substances

  • 5-thia-2,11-diamino-8-methyldodecanedioic acid
  • BHMT2 protein, human
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Sulfides
  • Homocysteine
  • Betaine-Homocysteine S-Methyltransferase