Inhibition of liver prenyltransferase by alkyl phosphonates and phosphonophosphates

n-Pentyl and n-decyl phosphonate and the corresponding phosphonophosphates were found to inhibit cholesterol synthesis from mevalonate in the 10000 X g supernatants of liver homogenates and the synthesis of farnesyl pyrophosphate from geranyl and isopentenyl pyrophosphate by purified liver prenyltransferase. Kinetic analysis of the inhibition of prenyltransferase showed that the phosphonates and the phosphonophosphates interacted with two forms, or two sites, of the enzyme. The order of increasing potency was C5-phosphonate less than C10-phosphonate less than C5-phosphonophosphate less than C10-phosphonophosphate. The phosphonophosphates were at least ten times stronger inhibitors than the phosphonates.