HISTIDINES, HISTAMINES AND IMIDAZOLES AS GLYCOSIDASE INHIBITORS

This present study reports the ability of a range of derivatives of L-histidine, histamine and imidazole to act as inhibitors of sweet-almond beta-glucosidase, yeast alpha-glucosidase, and Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase. The addition of a hydrophobic group to the basic imidazole nucleus greatly enhances binding to both the alpha- and beta-glucosidases. L-Histidine beta-naphthylamide (K(i) 17-mu-M) is a potent competitive inhibitor of sweet-almond beta-glucosidase as is omega-N-acetylhistamine (K(i) 35-mu-M), which inhibits the sweet-almond beta-glucosidase at least 700 times more strongly than either yeast alpha-glucosidase or Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase, and suggests potential for the development of selective reversible beta-glucosidase inhibitors. A range of hydrophobic omega-N-acylhistamines were synthesized and shown to be among the most potent inhibitors of sweet-almond beta-glucosidase reported to date.