DprE1--from the discovery to the promising tuberculosis drug target

Several groups working in the field of the development of new antituberculosis drugs have recently reported active compounds targeting mycobacterial enzyme DprE1. Along with its counterpart, DprE2, it catalyses a unique epimerization reaction resulting in the synthesis of decaprenylphosphoryl arabinose, the single donor of arabinosyl residues for the build-up of arabinans, fundamental components of the mycobacterial cell wall. This review presents the historical background leading to the discovery of DprE1, focusing on the biochemical and structural characterization of this important emerging target and introducing the molecules acting on DprE1 including the development of the most successful series--the benzothiazinones, currently in late pre-clinical development, which turned to be suicide inhibitors of DprE1.