The tightly coupled nature of the reaction sequence catalyzed by
monoterpene synthases has prevented direct observation of the topologically required isomerization step leading from
geranyl diphosphate to the
enzyme-bound, tertiary allylic intermediate
linalyl diphosphate, which then cyclizes to the various
monoterpene skeletons. X-ray crystal structures of these
enzymes complexed with suitable analogues of the substrate and intermediate could provide a clearer view of this universal, but cryptic, step of
monoterpenoid cyclase catalysis. Toward this end, the functionally inert analogues 2-fluorogeranyl
diphosphate, (+/-)-2-fluorolinalyl
diphosphate, and (3R)- and (3S)-homolinalyl
diphosphates (2,6-dimethyl-2-vinyl-5-heptenyl diphosphates) were prepared, and compared to the previously described substrate analogue 3-azageranyl
diphosphate (3-aza-2,3-dihydrogeranyl diphosphate) as inhibitors and potential crystallization
aids with two representative
monoterpenoid cyclases, (-)-
limonene synthase and (+)-bornyl
diphosphate synthase. Although these enantioselective synthases readily distinguished between (3R)- and (3S)-homolinalyl
diphosphates, both of which were more effective inhibitors than was 3-azageranyl
diphosphate, the fluorinated analogues proved to be the most potent competitive inhibitors and have recently yielded informative liganded structures with
limonene synthase.