4msu

Publication Abstract from PubMed

Small molecule activators of glucokinase have shown robust efficacy in both preclinical models and humans. However, overactivation of glucokinase (GK) can cause excessive glucose turnover, leading to hypoglycemia. To circumvent this adverse side effect, we chose to modulate GK activity by targeting the endogenous inhibitor of GK, glucokinase regulatory protein (GKRP). Disrupting the GK-GKRP complex results in an increase in the amount of unbound cytosolic GK without altering the inherent kinetics of the enzyme. Herein we report the identification of compounds that efficiently disrupt the GK-GKRP interaction via a previously unknown binding pocket. Using a structure-based approach, the potency of the initial hit was improved to provide 25 (AMG-1694). When dosed in ZDF rats, 25 showed both a robust pharmacodynamic effect as well as a statistically significant reduction in glucose. Additionally, hypoglycemia was not observed in either the hyperglycemic or normal rats.

Small molecule disruptors of the glucokinase-glucokinase regulatory protein interaction: 1. Discovery of a novel tool compound for in vivo proof-of-concept.,Ashton KS, Andrews KL, Bryan MC, Chen J, Chen K, Chen M, Chmait S, Croghan M, Cupples R, Fotsch C, Helmering J, Jordan SR, Kurzeja RJ, Michelsen K, Pennington LD, Poon SF, Sivits G, Van G, Vonderfecht SL, Wahl RC, Zhang J, Lloyd DJ, Hale C, St Jean DJ Jr J Med Chem. 2014 Jan 23;57(2):309-24. doi: 10.1021/jm4016735. Epub 2014 Jan 9. PMID:24405172^[1]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.