title: Inhibitors of protein: geranylgeranyl transferases.
abstract: The enzyme protein:geranylgeranyl transferase-1 (PGGT-1 or GGTase-I) catalyzes the geranylgeranylation of cysteine residues near the C-termini of a variety of proteins, including most monomeric GTP binding precursor proteins belonging to the Rho, Rac and Rap subfamilies. These proteins are involved in signaling pathways controlling important processes such as cell differentiation and growth. In the framework of the development of therapeutics against disorders associated with aberrant cell proliferation, the interference with these signal transduction cascades has been a major focus of investigation. For instance inhibitors of PGGT-1 have shown promise in the treatment of cancer, smooth muscle hyperplasia as well as parasitic infections, such as malaria. In this review, structural and mechanistic aspects of the protein:geranylgeranyl transferases are discussed as well as their importance with respect to the terpene metabolism. An extensive summary of reported inhibitors of PGGT-1, classified as natural products, peptide substrate (Ca(1)a(2)L box), terpene substrate (geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate) and others, is presented. The few known inhibitors of the other geranylgeranylating enzyme, protein:geranylgeranyl transferase-2 (PGGT-2), are also included.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Farid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: El Oualid
authors.forename: Louis H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Gijs A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: van der Marel
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Overhand
mesh_terms: D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D015195:Drug Design; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D018716:Molecular Mimicry; D011487:Protein Conformation; D040901:Proteomics / Q000379:methods; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases; C083291:geranylgeranyltransferase type-I