In this study, we prepared a new series of betaine-homocysteine S-methyltransferase (BHMT) inhibitors. The inhibitors were designed to mimic the hypothetical transition state of BHMT substrates, betaine and homocysteine, and consisted of analogues with NH, N(CH3), or N(CH3)2 groups separated from the homocysteine sulfur atom by a methylene, ethylene, or a propylene spacer.
The inhibition results evoke questions about putative conformational changes of BHMT upon the binding of the substrates/products and inhibitors.