Diisopropylphosphofluoridate enzyme inhibition

Enzyme Inhibition. Enzyme inhibitors (qv) are reagents that bind to the enzyme and cause a decrease in the reaction rate. Irreversible inhibitors bind to the enzyme by an irreversible reaction, and consequendy cannot dissociate from the enzyme or be removed by dilution or dialysis. Examples of irreversible inhibitors are nerve gases such as diisopropylphosphofluoridate [55-91-4] (DFP). 

Enzyme inhibition by diisopropylphosphofluoridate (DIPF), a group-specific... 

FIGURE 8.19 Enzyme inhibition by diisopropylphosphofluoridate (DIPF), a group-specific reagent. DIPF can inhibit an enzyme by covalently modifying a crucial serine residue (Section 9.1.1). 

It is noted in the cited reference that compounds that react or interact with serine wiU in tnm inactivate or inhibit these enzymes. In other words, we are speaking of protease inhibitors, and possibly anti-AIDS and anticancer agents. An example furnished is the formidably named diisopropylphosphofluoridate. 

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