L-lysinethiol: a subnanomolar inhibitor of aminopeptidase B

L-Lysinethiol was found to be an extremely potent inhibitor of aminopeptidase B (AP-B) with a Ki = 9.1 X 10(-10) M. L-leucinethiol was also a potent inhibitor of AP-B (kj = 1.3 X 10(-7) M), while the D-isomer was much less effective (Ki = 9.8 X 10(-5) M). A thiol-zinc interaction at the active site is postulated for AP-B.