A community effort in SARS-CoV-2 drug discovery.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose a substantial threat to human lives and is likely to do so for years to come. Despite the availability of vaccines, searching for efficient small-molecule drugs that are widely available, including in low- and middle-income countries, is an ongoing challenge. In this work, we report the results of an open science community effort, the "Billion molecules against COVID-19 challenge", to identify small-molecule inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2 or relevant human receptors. Participating teams used a wide variety of computational methods to screen a minimum of 1 billion virtual molecules against 6 protein targets. Overall, 31 teams participated, and they suggested a total of 639,024 molecules, which were subsequently ranked to find 'consensus compounds'. The organizing team coordinated with various contract research organizations (CROs) and collaborating institutions to synthesize and test 878 compounds for biological activity against proteases (Nsp5, Nsp3, TMPRSS2), nucleocapsid N, RdRP (only the Nsp12 domain), and (alpha) spike protein S. Overall, 27 compounds with weak inhibition/binding were experimentally identified by binding-, cleavage-, and/or viral suppression assays and are presented here. Open science approaches such as the one presented here contribute to the knowledge base of future drug discovery efforts in finding better SARS-CoV-2 treatments.

4-O-Substituted Glucuronic Cyclophellitols are Selective Mechanism-Based Heparanase Inhibitors.

Degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) supports tissue integrity and homeostasis, but is also a key factor in cancer metastasis. Heparanase (HPSE) is a mammalian ECM-remodeling enzyme with ß-D-endo-glucuronidase activity overexpressed in several malignancies, and is thought to facilitate tumor growth and metastasis. By this virtue, HPSE is considered an attractive target for the development of cancer therapies, yet to date no HPSE inhibitors have progressed to the clinic. Here we report on the discovery of glucurono-configured cyclitol derivatives featuring simple substituents at the 4-O-position as irreversible HPSE inhibitors. We show that these compounds, unlike glucurono-cyclophellitol, are selective for HPSE over ß-D-exo-glucuronidase (GUSB), also in platelet lysate. The observed selectivity is induced by steric and electrostatic interactions of the substituents at the 4-O-position. Crystallographic analysis supports this rationale for HPSE selectivity, and computer simulations provide insights in the conformational preferences and binding poses of the inhibitors, which we believe are good starting points for the future development of HPSE-targeting antimetastatic cancer drugs.

Synergistic inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 cell entry by otamixaban and covalent protease inhibitors: pre-clinical assessment of pharmacological and molecular properties.

SARS-CoV-2, the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic, exploits host cell proteins for viral entry into human lung cells. One of them, the protease TMPRSS2, is required to activate the viral spike protein (S). Even though two inhibitors, camostat and nafamostat, are known to inhibit TMPRSS2 and block cell entry of SARS-CoV-2, finding further potent therapeutic options is still an important task. In this study, we report that a late-stage drug candidate, otamixaban, inhibits SARS-CoV-2 cell entry. We show that otamixaban suppresses TMPRSS2 activity and SARS-CoV-2 infection of a human lung cell line, although with lower potency than camostat or nafamostat. In contrast, otamixaban inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection of precision cut lung slices with the same potency as camostat. Furthermore, we report that otamixaban's potency can be significantly enhanced by (sub-) nanomolar nafamostat or camostat supplementation. Dominant molecular TMPRSS2-otamixaban interactions are assessed by extensive 109 µs of atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. Our findings suggest that combinations of otamixaban with supplemental camostat or nafamostat are a promising option for the treatment of COVID-19.

Alpha 1 Antitrypsin is an Inhibitor of the SARS-CoV-2-Priming Protease TMPRSS2.

BACKGROUND: Host proteases have been suggested to be crucial for dissemination of MERS, SARS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 coronaviruses, but the relative contribution of membrane versus intracellular proteases remains controversial. Transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) is regarded as one of the main proteases implicated in the coronavirus S protein priming, an important step for binding of the S protein to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor before cell entry. METHODS: We developed a cell-based assay to identify TMPRSS2 inhibitors. Inhibitory activity was established in SARS-CoV-2 viral load systems. RESULTS: We identified the human extracellular serine protease inhibitor (serpin) alpha 1 anti-trypsin (A1AT) as a novel TMPRSS2 inhibitor. Structural modeling revealed that A1AT docked to an extracellular domain of TMPRSS2 in a conformation that is suitable for catalysis, resembling similar serine protease inhibitor complexes. Inhibitory activity of A1AT was established in a SARS-CoV-2 viral load system. Notably, plasma A1AT levels were associated with COVID-19 disease severity. CONCLUSIONS: Our data support the key role of extracellular serine proteases in SARS CoV-2 infections and indicate that treatment with serpins, particularly the FDA-approved drug A1AT, may be effective in limiting SARS-CoV-2 dissemination by affecting the surface of the host cells.

Camostat mesylate inhibits SARS-CoV-2 activation by TMPRSS2-related proteases and its metabolite GBPA exerts antiviral activity.

BACKGROUND: Antivirals are needed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, which is caused by SARS-CoV-2. The clinically-proven protease inhibitor Camostat mesylate inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection by blocking the virus-activating host cell protease TMPRSS2. However, antiviral activity of Camostat mesylate metabolites and potential viral resistance have not been analyzed. Moreover, antiviral activity of Camostat mesylate in human lung tissue remains to be demonstrated. METHODS: We used recombinant TMPRSS2, reporter particles bearing the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 or authentic SARS-CoV-2 to assess inhibition of TMPRSS2 and viral entry, respectively, by Camostat mesylate and its metabolite GBPA. FINDINGS: We show that several TMPRSS2-related proteases activate SARS-CoV-2 and that two, TMPRSS11D and TMPRSS13, are robustly expressed in the upper respiratory tract. However, entry mediated by these proteases was blocked by Camostat mesylate. The Camostat metabolite GBPA inhibited recombinant TMPRSS2 with reduced efficiency as compared to Camostat mesylate. In contrast, both inhibitors exhibited similar antiviral activity and this correlated with the rapid conversion of Camostat mesylate into GBPA in the presence of serum. Finally, Camostat mesylate and GBPA blocked SARS-CoV-2 spread in human lung tissue ex vivo and the related protease inhibitor Nafamostat mesylate exerted augmented antiviral activity. INTERPRETATION: Our results suggest that SARS-CoV-2 can use TMPRSS2 and closely related proteases for spread in the upper respiratory tract and that spread in the human lung can be blocked by Camostat mesylate and its metabolite GBPA. FUNDING: NIH, Damon Runyon Foundation, ACS, NYCT, DFG, EU, Berlin Mathematics center MATH+, BMBF, Lower Saxony, Lundbeck Foundation, Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Discovery of a hidden transient state in all bromodomain families.

Bromodomains (BDs) are small protein modules that interact with acetylated marks in histones. These posttranslational modifications are pivotal to regulate gene expression, making BDs promising targets to treat several diseases. While the general structure of BDs is well known, their dynamical features and their interplay with other macromolecules are poorly understood, hampering the rational design of potent and selective inhibitors. Here, we combine extensive molecular dynamics simulations, Markov state modeling, and available structural data to reveal a transiently formed state that is conserved across all BD families. It involves the breaking of two backbone hydrogen bonds that anchor the ZA-loop with the αA helix, opening a cryptic pocket that partially occludes the one associated to histone binding. By analyzing more than 1,900 experimental structures, we unveil just two adopting the hidden state, explaining why it has been previously unnoticed and providing direct structural evidence for its existence. Our results suggest that this state is an allosteric regulatory switch for BDs, potentially related to a recently unveiled BD-DNA-binding mode.

Molecular mechanism of inhibiting the SARS-CoV-2 cell entry facilitator TMPRSS2 with camostat and nafamostat.

The entry of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 into human lung cells can be inhibited by the approved drugs camostat and nafamostat. Here we elucidate the molecular mechanism of these drugs by combining experiments and simulations. In vitro assays confirm that both drugs inhibit the human protein TMPRSS2, a SARS-Cov-2 spike protein activator. As no experimental structure is available, we provide a model of the TMPRSS2 equilibrium structure and its fluctuations by relaxing an initial homology structure with extensive 330 microseconds of all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) and Markov modeling. Through Markov modeling, we describe the binding process of both drugs and a metabolic product of camostat (GBPA) to TMPRSS2, reaching a Michaelis complex (MC) state, which precedes the formation of a long-lived covalent inhibitory state. We find that nafamostat has a higher MC population than camostat and GBPA, suggesting that nafamostat is more readily available to form the stable covalent enzyme-substrate intermediate, effectively explaining its high potency. This model is backed by our in vitro experiments and consistent with previous virus cell entry assays. Our TMPRSS2-drug structures are made public to guide the design of more potent and specific inhibitors.

Alpha 1 Antitrypsin is an Inhibitor of the SARS-CoV-2-Priming Protease TMPRSS2.

Host proteases have been suggested to be crucial for dissemination of MERS, SARS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 coronaviruses, but the relative contribution of membrane versus intracellular proteases remains controversial. Transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) is regarded as one of the main proteases implicated in the coronavirus S protein priming, an important step for binding of the S protein to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor before cell entry. The main cellular location where the SARS-CoV-2 S protein priming occurs remains debatable, therefore hampering the development of targeted treatments. Herein, we identified the human extracellular serine protease inhibitor (serpin) alpha 1 antitrypsin (A1AT) as a novel TMPRSS2 inhibitor. Structural modeling revealed that A1AT docked to an extracellular domain of TMPRSS2 in a conformation that is suitable for catalysis, resembling similar serine protease-inhibitor complexes. Inhibitory activity of A1AT was established in a SARS-CoV-2 viral load system. Notably, plasma A1AT levels were associated with COVID-19 disease severity. Our data support the key role of extracellular serine proteases in SARS-CoV-2 infections and indicate that treatment with serpins, particularly the FDA-approved drug A1AT, may be effective in limiting SARS-CoV-2 dissemination by affecting the surface of the host cells. SUMMARY: Delivery of extracellular serine protease inhibitors (serpins) such as A1AT has the capacity to reduce SARS-CoV-2 dissemination by binding and inhibiting extracellular proteases on the host cells, thus, inhibiting the first step in SARS-CoV-2 cell cycle (i.e. cell entry).

Camostat mesylate inhibits SARS-CoV-2 activation by TMPRSS2-related proteases and its metabolite GBPA exerts antiviral activity.

Antiviral therapy is urgently needed to combat the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The protease inhibitor camostat mesylate inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection of lung cells by blocking the virus-activating host cell protease TMPRSS2. Camostat mesylate has been approved for treatment of pancreatitis in Japan and is currently being repurposed for COVID-19 treatment. However, potential mechanisms of viral resistance as well as camostat mesylate metabolization and antiviral activity of metabolites are unclear. Here, we show that SARS-CoV-2 can employ TMPRSS2-related host cell proteases for activation and that several of them are expressed in viral target cells. However, entry mediated by these proteases was blocked by camostat mesylate. The camostat metabolite GBPA inhibited the activity of recombinant TMPRSS2 with reduced efficiency as compared to camostat mesylate and was rapidly generated in the presence of serum. Importantly, the infection experiments in which camostat mesylate was identified as a SARS-CoV-2 inhibitor involved preincubation of target cells with camostat mesylate in the presence of serum for 2 h and thus allowed conversion of camostat mesylate into GBPA. Indeed, when the antiviral activities of GBPA and camostat mesylate were compared in this setting, no major differences were identified. Our results indicate that use of TMPRSS2-related proteases for entry into target cells will not render SARS-CoV-2 camostat mesylate resistant. Moreover, the present and previous findings suggest that the peak concentrations of GBPA established after the clinically approved camostat mesylate dose (600 mg/day) will result in antiviral activity.

An Epoxide Intermediate in Glycosidase Catalysis.

Retaining glycoside hydrolases cleave their substrates through stereochemical retention at the anomeric position. Typically, this involves two-step mechanisms using either an enzymatic nucleophile via a covalent glycosyl enzyme intermediate or neighboring-group participation by a substrate-borne 2-acetamido neighboring group via an oxazoline intermediate; no enzymatic mechanism with participation of the sugar 2-hydroxyl has been reported. Here, we detail structural, computational, and kinetic evidence for neighboring-group participation by a mannose 2-hydroxyl in glycoside hydrolase family 99 endo-α-1,2-mannanases. We present a series of crystallographic snapshots of key species along the reaction coordinate: a Michaelis complex with a tetrasaccharide substrate; complexes with intermediate mimics, a sugar-shaped cyclitol ß-1,2-aziridine and ß-1,2-epoxide; and a product complex. The 1,2-epoxide intermediate mimic displayed hydrolytic and transfer reactivity analogous to that expected for the 1,2-anhydro sugar intermediate supporting its catalytic equivalence. Quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics modeling of the reaction coordinate predicted a reaction pathway through a 1,2-anhydro sugar via a transition state in an unusual flattened, envelope (E 3) conformation. Kinetic isotope effects (k cat/K M) for anomeric-2H and anomeric-13C support an oxocarbenium ion-like transition state, and that for C2-18O (1.052 ± 0.006) directly implicates nucleophilic participation by the C2-hydroxyl. Collectively, these data substantiate this unprecedented and long-imagined enzymatic mechanism.

A Single Point Mutation Converts GH84 O-GlcNAc Hydrolases into Phosphorylases: Experimental and Theoretical Evidence.

Glycoside hydrolases and phosphorylases are two major classes of enzymes responsible for the cleavage of glycosidic bonds. Here we show that two GH84 O-GlcNAcase enzymes can be converted to efficient phosphorylases by a single point mutation. Noteworthy, the mutated enzymes are over 10-fold more active than naturally occurring glucosaminide phosphorylases. We rationalize this novel transformation using molecular dynamics and QM/MM metadynamics methods, showing that the mutation changes the electrostatic potential at the active site and reduces the energy barrier for phosphorolysis by 10 kcal·mol-1. In addition, the simulations unambiguously reveal the nature of the intermediate as a glucose oxazolinium ion, clarifying the debate on the nature of such a reaction intermediate in glycoside hydrolases operating via substrate-assisted catalysis.

Modeling catalytic reaction mechanisms in glycoside hydrolases.

Modeling catalysis in carbohydrate-active enzymes is a daunting challenge because of the high flexibility and diversity of both enzymes and carbohydrates. Glycoside hydrolases (GHs) are an illustrative example, where conformational changes and subtle interactions have been shown to be critical for catalysis. GHs have pivotal roles in industry (e.g. biofuel or detergent production) and biomedicine (e.g. targets for cancer and diabetes), and thus, a huge effort is devoted to unveil their molecular mechanisms. Besides experimental techniques, computational methods have served to provide an in-depth understanding of GH mechanisms, capturing complex reaction coordinates and the conformational itineraries that substrates follow during the whole catalytic pathway, providing a framework that ultimately may assist the engineering of these enzymes and the design of new inhibitors.

Dynamic and Functional Profiling of Xylan-Degrading Enzymes in Aspergillus Secretomes Using Activity-Based Probes.

Plant polysaccharides represent a virtually unlimited feedstock for the generation of biofuels and other commodities. However, the extraordinary recalcitrance of plant polysaccharides toward breakdown necessitates a continued search for enzymes that degrade these materials efficiently under defined conditions. Activity-based protein profiling provides a route for the functional discovery of such enzymes in complex mixtures and under industrially relevant conditions. Here, we show the detection and identification of ß-xylosidases and endo-ß-1,4-xylanases in the secretomes of Aspergillus niger, by the use of chemical probes inspired by the ß-glucosidase inhibitor cyclophellitol. Furthermore, we demonstrate the use of these activity-based probes (ABPs) to assess enzyme-substrate specificities, thermal stabilities, and other biotechnologically relevant parameters. Our experiments highlight the utility of ABPs as promising tools for the discovery of relevant enzymes useful for biomass breakdown.

Molecular-Scale Ligand Effects in Small Gold-Thiolate Nanoclusters.

Because of the small size and large surface area of thiolate-protected Au nanoclusters (NCs), the protecting ligands are expected to play a substantial role in modulating the structure and properties, particularly in the solution phase. However, little is known on how thiolate ligands explicitly modulate the structural properties of the NCs at atomic level, even though this information is critical for predicting the performance of Au NCs in application settings including as a catalyst interacting with small molecules and as a sensor interacting with biomolecular systems. Here, we report a combined experimental and theoretical study, using synchrotron X-ray spectroscopy and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics simulations, that investigates how the protecting ligands impact the structure and properties of small Au18(SR)14 NCs. Two representative ligand types, smaller aliphatic cyclohexanethiolate and larger hydrophilic glutathione, are selected, and their structures are followed experimentally in both solid and solution phases. It was found that cyclohexanethiolate ligands are significantly perturbed by toluene solvent molecules, resulting in structural changes that cause disorder on the surface of Au18(SR)14 NCs. In particular, large surface cavities in the ligand shell are created by interactions between toluene and cyclohexanethiolate. The appearance of these small molecule-accessible sites on the  NC surface demonstrates the ability of Au NCs to act as a catalyst for organic phase reactions. In contrast, glutathione ligands encapsulate the Au NC core via intermolecular interactions, minimizing structural changes caused by interactions with water molecules. The much better protection from glutathione ligands imparts a rigidified surface and ligand structure, making the NCs desirable for biomedical applications due to the high stability and also offering a structural-based explanation for the enhanced photoluminescence often reported for glutathione-protected Au NCs.

Structural and Mechanistic Insights into the Catalytic-Domain-Mediated Short-Range Glycosylation Preferences of GalNAc-T4.

Mucin-type O-glycosylation is initiated by a family of polypeptide GalNAc-transferases (GalNAc-Ts) which are type-II transmembrane proteins that contain Golgi luminal catalytic and lectin domains that are connected by a flexible linker. Several GalNAc-Ts, including GalNAc-T4, show both long-range and short-range prior glycosylation specificity, governed by their lectin and catalytic domains, respectively. While the mechanism of the lectin-domain-dependent glycosylation is well-known, the molecular basis for the catalytic-domain-dependent glycosylation of glycopeptides is unclear. Herein, we report the crystal structure of GalNAc-T4 bound to the diglycopeptide GAT*GAGAGAGT*TPGPG (containing two α-GalNAc glycosylated Thr (T*), the PXP motif and a "naked" Thr acceptor site) that describes its catalytic domain glycopeptide GalNAc binding site. Kinetic studies of wild-type and GalNAc binding site mutant enzymes show the lectin domain GalNAc binding activity dominates over the catalytic domain GalNAc binding activity and that these activities can be independently eliminated. Surprisingly, a flexible loop protruding from the lectin domain was found essential for the optimal activity of the catalytic domain. This work provides the first structural basis for the short-range glycosylation preferences of a GalNAc-T.

Palladium-mediated enzyme activation suggests multiphase initiation of glycogenesis.

Biosynthesis of glycogen, the essential glucose (and hence energy) storage molecule in humans, animals and fungi1, is initiated by the glycosyltransferase enzyme, glycogenin (GYG). Deficiencies in glycogen formation cause neurodegenerative and metabolic disease2-4, and mouse knockout5 and inherited human mutations6 of GYG impair glycogen synthesis. GYG acts as a 'seed core' for the formation of the glycogen particle by catalysing its own stepwise autoglucosylation to form a covalently bound gluco-oligosaccharide chain at initiation site Tyr 195. Precise mechanistic studies have so far been prevented by an inability to access homogeneous glycoforms of this protein, which unusually acts as both catalyst and substrate. Here we show that unprecedented direct access to different, homogeneously glucosylated states of GYG can be accomplished through a palladium-mediated enzyme activation 'shunt' process using on-protein C-C bond formation. Careful mimicry of GYG intermediates recapitulates catalytic activity at distinct stages, which in turn allows discovery of triphasic kinetics and substrate plasticity in GYG's use of sugar substrates. This reveals a tolerant but 'proof-read' mechanism that underlies the precision of this metabolic process. The present demonstration of direct, chemically controlled access to intermediate states of active enzymes suggests that such ligation-dependent activation could be a powerful tool in the study of mechanism.

The Molecular Mechanism of Substrate Recognition and Catalysis of the Membrane Acyltransferase PatA from Mycobacteria.

Glycolipids play a central role in a variety of important biological processes in all living organisms. PatA is a membrane acyltransferase involved in the biosynthesis of phosphatidyl-myo-inositol mannosides (PIMs), key structural elements, and virulence factors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. PatA catalyzes the transfer of a palmitoyl moiety from palmitoyl-CoA to the 6-position of the mannose ring linked to the 2-position of inositol in PIM1/PIM2. We report here the crystal structure of PatA in the presence of 6-O-palmitoyl-α-d-mannopyranoside, unraveling the acceptor binding mechanism. The acceptor mannose ring localizes in a cavity at the end of a surface-exposed long groove where the active site is located, whereas the palmitate moiety accommodates into a hydrophobic pocket deeply buried in the α/ß core of the protein. Both fatty acyl chains of the PIM2 acceptor are essential for the reaction to take place, highlighting their critical role in the generation of a competent active site. By the use of combined structural and quantum-mechanics/molecular-mechanics (QM/MM) metadynamics, we unravel the catalytic mechanism of PatA at the atomic-electronic level. Our study provides a detailed structural rationale for a stepwise reaction, with the generation of a tetrahedral transition state for the rate-determining step. Finally, the crystal structure of PatA in the presence of ß-d-mannopyranose and palmitate suggests an inhibitory mechanism for the enzyme, providing exciting possibilities for inhibitor design and the discovery of chemotherapeutic agents against this major human pathogen.

Precise Probing of Residue Roles by Post-Translational ß,γ-C,N Aza-Michael Mutagenesis in Enzyme Active Sites.

Biomimicry valuably allows the understanding of the essential chemical components required to recapitulate biological function, yet direct strategies for evaluating the roles of amino acids in proteins can be limited by access to suitable, subtly-altered unnatural variants. Here we describe a strategy for dissecting the role of histidine residues in enzyme active sites using unprecedented, chemical, post-translational side-chain-ß,γ C-N bond formation. Installation of dehydroalanine (as a "tag") allowed the testing of nitrogen conjugate nucleophiles in "aza-Michael"-1,4-additions (to "modify"). This allowed the creation of a regioisomer of His (iso-His, Hisiso) linked instead through its pros-Nπ atom rather than naturally linked via C4, as well as an aza-altered variant aza-Hisiso. The site-selective generation of these unnatural amino acids was successfully applied to probe the contributing roles (e.g., size, H-bonding) of His residues toward activity in the model enzymes subtilisin protease from Bacillus lentus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis pantothenate synthetase.

1,6-Cyclophellitol Cyclosulfates: A New Class of Irreversible Glycosidase Inhibitor.

The essential biological roles played by glycosidases, coupled to the diverse therapeutic benefits of pharmacologically targeting these enzymes, provide considerable motivation for the development of new inhibitor classes. Cyclophellitol epoxides and aziridines are recently established covalent glycosidase inactivators. Inspired by the application of cyclic sulfates as electrophilic equivalents of epoxides in organic synthesis, we sought to test whether cyclophellitol cyclosulfates would similarly act as irreversible glycosidase inhibitors. Here we present the synthesis, conformational analysis, and application of novel 1,6-cyclophellitol cyclosulfates. We show that 1,6-epi-cyclophellitol cyclosulfate (α-cyclosulfate) is a rapidly reacting α-glucosidase inhibitor whose 4C1 chair conformation matches that adopted by α-glucosidase Michaelis complexes. The 1,6-cyclophellitol cyclosulfate (ß-cyclosulfate) reacts more slowly, likely reflecting its conformational restrictions. Selective glycosidase inhibitors are invaluable as mechanistic probes and therapeutic agents, and we propose cyclophellitol cyclosulfates as a valuable new class of carbohydrate mimetics for application in these directions.

Conformational Analysis of the Mannosidase Inhibitor Kifunensine: A Quantum Mechanical and Structural Approach.

The varied yet family-specific conformational pathways used by individual glycoside hydrolases (GHs) offer a tantalising prospect for the design of tightly binding and specific enzyme inhibitors. A cardinal example of a GH-family-specific inhibitor, and one that finds widespread practical use, is the natural product kifunensine, which is a low-nanomolar inhibitor that is selective for GH family 47 inverting α-mannosidases. Here we show, through quantum-mechanical approaches, that kifunensine is restrained to a "ring-flipped" 1 C4 conformation with another accessible, but higher-energy, region around the 1,4 B conformation. The conformations of kifunensine in complex with a range of GH47 enzymes-including an atomic-level resolution (1 Å) structure of kifunensine with Caulobacter sp. CkGH47 reported herein and with GH family 38 and 92 α-mannosidases-were mapped onto the kifunensine free-energy landscape. These studies revealed that kifunensine has the ability to mimic the product state of GH47 enzymes but cannot mimic any conformational states relevant to the reaction coordinate of mannosidases from other families.