KAT III inhibitor

KAT III inhibitors are a class of small molecule inhibitors designed to selectively target kynurenine aminotransferase III (KAT III), an enzyme that converts kynurenine to kynurenic acid (KYNA) under conditions of immune activation. While KAT II is the primary enzyme responsible for KYNA production under physiological conditions, research has demonstrated that immune activation (such as that induced by viral infections like COVID-19 or inflammatory stimuli) upregulates KAT III, shifting KYNA synthesis predominantly to this isoform. Elevated brain KYNA levels are associated with cognitive impairment and psychosis in psychiatric and infectious diseases. Developed through a collaboration between Karolinska Institutet and the Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab) Drug Discovery & Development Platform, selective KAT III inhibitors (such as the lead compound SLL-9183) are being investigated as potential first-in-class therapeutics to reduce immune-induced KYNA synthesis and treat associated cognitive dysfunction and neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Other names

KAT3 inhibitorKAT-3 inhibitorKAT 3 inhibitorkynurenine aminotransferase 3 inhibitorkynurenine aminotransferase III inhibitor