Enzymatic synthesis of new C-6-acylated derivatives of NAG-thiazoline and evaluation of their inhibitor activities towards fungal beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase

beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases (EC 3.2.1.52) from the CAZy glycoside hydrolase families 20 and 84 are two distinct enzyme groups with similar reactivity and different physiological functions, thus selective inhibition of these enzymes is of crucial importance. Here, we report on the lipase-catalyzed synthesis of a set of novel monomeric and dimeric C-6-acylated derivatives of NAG-thiazoline, which is a typical competitive inhibitor of both these enzyme classes. The prepared compounds were tested as potential inhibitors of a fungal GH20 beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase from Talaromyces flavus, however, the results of the inhibition tests were quite ambiguous. The observed inhibition was generally weak with some features of competitive inhibition (increase of K-M), but the overall pattern appeared indecisive. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.