Patent ID: 7297509

Claim:
A method of identifying an inhibitor of an enzyme functional for the conversion of 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate to 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-butenyl 4-diphosphate, in its E-form, of the non-mevalonate isoprenoid pathway comprising: (a) incubating a mixture containing said enzyme with its, optionally isotope labeled, substrate 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate and NADH or NADPH under conditions suitable for said conversion in the presence and in the absence of a potential inhibitor, (b) subsequently determining the concentration of 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate and/or 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-butenyl 4-diphosphate by measuring the consumption of NADH or NADPH, and (c) comparing the concentration of 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate and/or 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-butenyl 4-diphosphate in the presence and in the absence of said potential inhibitor.