Structure-based virtual screening reveals new metabolite interactions and modulators of human glucose-6-phosphate isomerase

Exploring the ability of metabolic enzymes to interact with diverse small molecules can provide insights into their ligand recognition and activity regulation. Glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI) is an enzyme that catalyzes the second step of glycolysis, a critical node that links glucose metabolism to other cytosolic pathways, such as pentose phosphate and hexosamine biosynthetic pathways. Despite its importance in cellular metabolism, little is known about the broad ligandability of GPI. Here, we performed a structure-based virtual screening using molecular docking to identify new modulators predicted to engage with the human GPI active site. Enzyme kinetic and binding studies confirmed eleven compounds as active-site binders of GPI, exhibiting inhibitory activities and binding affinities in upper micromolar to sub-millimolar range. The binding of several ligands to GPI active site was further supported by X-ray crystallographic data. In addition, in vitro assays were performed to evaluate the modulatory effects of the GPI hits on cellular glycolysis and viability. The identified inhibitors included the mono-phosphorylated metabolite of ribavirin, which inhibited glycolytic flux and cell viability; two compounds with phosphate bioisosteres; and endogenous phosphate-containing metabolites from the pentose phosphate, hexosamine, nucleotide, and mevalonate pathways. Collectively, these findings expanded the repertoire of human GPI ligands and revealed previously unrecognized GPI-metabolite interactions that may contribute to modulation of glycolytic flux.