Inhibitory Evaluation of αPMM/PGM from Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Chemical Synthesis, Enzyme Kinetics, and Protein Crystallographic Study

α-Phosphomannomutase/phosphoglucomutase (αPMM/PGM) from P. aeruginosa is involved in bacterial cell wall assembly and is implicated in P. aeruginosa virulence, yet few studies have addressed αPMM/PGM inhibition from this important Gram-negative bacterial human pathogen. Four structurally different α-d-glucopyranose 1-phosphate (αG1P) derivatives including 1-C-fluoromethylated analogues (1–3), 1,2-cyclic phosph(on)ate analogues (4–6), isosteric methylene phosphono analogues (7 and 8), and 6-fluoro-αG1P (9), were synthesized and assessed as potential time-dependent or reversible αPMM/PGM inhibitors. The resulting kinetic data were consistent with the crystallographic structures of the highly homologous Xanthomonas citri αPGM with inhibitors 3 and 7–9 binding to the enzyme active site (1.65–1.9 A). These structural and kinetic insights will enhance the design of future αPMM/PGM inhibitors.