Vertebrate collagenase inhibitor. I. Tripeptidyl hydroxamic acids.

A series of tripeptidyl analogues carrying hydroxamic acid residue at the C-terminus of the molecule were synthesized, and their inhibitory activities against vertebrate collagenase and other metalloenzymes including bacterial collagenase were examined. Both Z-Pro-Leu-Ala-NHOH and Z-Pro-D-Leu-D-Ala-NHOH showed highly specific and potent inhibitory activity against tadpole and human skin collagenases with an IC50 of 10(-6) M order.