The proteolytic complex ClpXP is fundamental to bacterial homeostasis and pathogenesis.B ecause of its conformational flexibility,t he development of potent ClpXP inhibitors is challenging,a nd novel tools to decipher its intricate regulation are urgently needed. Herein, we present amino acid based phenyl esters as molecular probes to study the activity and oligomerization of the ClpXP complex of S. aureus.Systematic screening of (R)-and (S)-amino acids led to compounds showing potent inhibition, as well as stimulation of ClpXP-mediated proteolysis.S ubstoichiometric binding of probes arrested ClpXP in an unprecedented heptamer-hexamer assembly,i nw hicht he two heptameric ClpP rings are dissociated from eacho ther.A tt he same time,t he affinity between ClpX and ClpP increased, leading to inhibition of both enzymes.T his conformational arrest is beneficial for the consolidated shutdown of ClpXP,aswell as for the study of the oligomeric state during its catalytic cycle.