Benzoylphenoxy analogs of isoprenoid diphosphates as photoactivatable substrates for bacterial prenyltransferases

Photoactivatable benzophenone-containing analogs of isoprenyl diphosphates have been synthesized and evaluated as substrates and inhibitors of three bacterial prenyltransferases: farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPS), hexaprenyl diphosphate synthase (HexPS) and undecaprenyl diphosphate synthase (UPS). These analogs undergo chain extension and will allow identification of hydrophobic active site residues of these enzymes.