(R)-/(S)-10-camphorsulfonyl-substituted aromatic/heterocyclic sulfonamides selectively inhibit mitochondrial over cytosolic carbonic anhydrases.

A series of aromatic and heterocyclic sulfonamides incorporating R- and S-camphorsulfonyl moieties were synthesized and investigated for the inhibition of several mammalian isoforms of the zinc enzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1). The new sulfonamides selectively inhibited the mitochondrial isozymes hCA VA and VB (h=human isoform) over the cytosolic, off-target ones hCA I and II, with inhibition constants in the low nanomolar range. The chirality and position of the groups substituting the sulfonamide scaffold greatly influenced CA inhibitory properties. These compounds are excellent leads for designing isoform-selective enzyme inhibitors targeting mitochondrial CAs involved in lipogenesis and obesity.