The structure-activity relationships of a series of suicide inhibitors of phospholipase A2.

A series of mechanism-based inhibitors of phospholipase A2 (SIBLINKS) were synthesized. These new SIBLINKS are phospholipid analogues that contain a para-substituted phenyl 3,3-dimethylglutaryl group in the place of the sn-2 acyl chain. The effect of the phenyl leaving group on inhibitory activity was studied by varying the electron-withdrawing ability of the para-substituted group. A strong correlation was observed between the leaving group potential of the suicide inhibitor and the inhibitory activity of the derivative toward cobra venom phospholipase A2.