A Potent Reversible Inhibitor of Carboxypeptidase A

Benzylsuccinic acid and closely related compounds are effective inhibitors of carboxypeptidase A. The l isomer of benzylsuccinic acid, 2(R)-benzyl-3-carboxypropionic acid, appears to be bound by the enzyme several orders of magnitude more tightly than known substrates and inhibitors. This inhibitor may resemble the collected substrates for the reverse reaction, combining their individual binding characteristics in a single molecule.