Synthesis and analysis of substrate analogues for UDP-galactopyranose mutase: implication for an oxocarbenium ion intermediate in the catalytic mechanism

[reaction: see text] UDP-D-galactofuranose (2), which is essential for both cell growth and virulence in many pathogenic microorganisms, is converted from UDP-D-galactopyranose (UDP-Galp, 1) by the flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)-dependent enzyme UDP-galactopyranose mutase (UGM). Here, we report the synthesis of UDP-GalOH (13) and show it as an inhibitor for UGM with a binding affinity similar to that of 1. These results are more consistent with a mechanism involving an oxocarbenium ion intermediate in UGM catalysis.