Discovery of a small molecule insulin mimetic with antidiabetic activity in mice

Science. 1999 May 7;284(5416):974-7. doi: 10.1126/science.284.5416.974.

Abstract

Insulin elicits a spectrum of biological responses by binding to its cell surface receptor. In a screen for small molecules that activate the human insulin receptor tyrosine kinase, a nonpeptidyl fungal metabolite (L-783,281) was identified that acted as an insulin mimetic in several biochemical and cellular assays. The compound was selective for insulin receptor versus insulin-like growth factor I (IGFI) receptor and other receptor tyrosine kinases. Oral administration of L-783,281 to two mouse models of diabetes resulted in significant lowering in blood glucose levels. These results demonstrate the feasibility of discovering novel insulin receptor activators that may lead to new therapies for diabetes.

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Ascomycota / metabolism*
  • Binding Sites
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • CHO Cells
  • Cricetinae
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / drug therapy*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Enzyme Activation
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism
  • Glucose Tolerance Test
  • Hyperglycemia / drug therapy
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / chemistry
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / metabolism
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Indoles / chemistry
  • Indoles / metabolism
  • Indoles / pharmacology*
  • Indoles / therapeutic use
  • Insulin / blood
  • Insulin / metabolism
  • Insulin / pharmacology*
  • Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins
  • Mice
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Mice, Obese
  • Molecular Mimicry
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Conformation / drug effects
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1 / metabolism
  • Receptor, Insulin / chemistry
  • Receptor, Insulin / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • IRS1 protein, human
  • Indoles
  • Insulin
  • Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins
  • Irs1 protein, mouse
  • L 783281
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1
  • Receptor, Insulin