Synthetic substrate analogues interactions

Substrate analogues containing the mercaptan functionaUty have been extensively investigated as collagenase inhibitors, and some other sulphur-based functionalities have also been explored [1,161,172-185]. The mercap-tans tend to be very potent inhibitors of all of the MMP, presumably due to the strong interaction between the active site Zn(II) and the mercaptide anion. Unfortunately, these compounds tend to undergo inactivation by oxidative disulphide formation. However, the rate at which this occurs varies widely and depends on the structure of the inhibitor. The most common synthetic route to these derivatives again leads to a diastereomeric mixture. 

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