Inhibition of squalene synthetase by farnesyl pyrophosphate analogues

The pyrophosphates of the following farnesol analogues have been synthesized: 2-methylfarnesol; 7,11-dimethyl-3-ethyl-2,6,10-dodecatrien-1-ol; 3-demethylfarnesol; 4-methylthiofarnesol; 7,11-dimethyl-3-iodo-2,6,10-dodecatrien-1-ol; 7,11-dimethyl02-iodo-2,6,10-dodecatrien-1-ol; 7,11-dimethyldodeca-6,10-dien-2-yn-1-ol; phytol; 3,7,11-trimethyl-2-dodecen-1-ol; 3,7,11-trimethyldodecan-1-ol; and geraniol. The double bonds in all the above compounds were in the E configuration, except phytol, which was a 7:3 mixture of 2E and 2Z isomers. Each of the pyrophosphates inhibits the incorporation of labeled farnesyl pyrophosphate into squalene by a yeast enzyme preparation. Free alcohols and monophosphates are inactive. The analogues, listed in order of decreasing inhibitory strength, are, by kinetic analysis, competitive or mixed inhibitors. Irreversible inhibition is not observed. The results suggest that binding to the enzyme is primarily mediated by the pyrophosphate moiety assisted by relatively nonspecific lipophilic interactions. Decreasing the chain length and saturating double bonds severely reduces binding, while substitution at the 2,3, and 4 positions, and lengthening of the chain, is well tolerated.