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Glucokinase activators (GKAs) promise a new pharmacotherapy for diabetics

The glucose-phosphorylating enzyme glucokinase, a promising target for developing new antidiabetic agents, was identified through the combined efforts of basic research and human biochemical genetics. Allosteric glucokinase activators (GKAs) were discovered by high-throughput screening of a large co...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Matschinsky, Franz M, Porte, Daniel
Formato: Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Medicine Reports Ltd 2010
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2950051/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20948841
http://dx.doi.org/10.3410/M2-43
Descripción
Sumario:The glucose-phosphorylating enzyme glucokinase, a promising target for developing new antidiabetic agents, was identified through the combined efforts of basic research and human biochemical genetics. Allosteric glucokinase activators (GKAs) were discovered by high-throughput screening of a large compound library and first reported in 2003. GKAs stimulate insulin release and glucose metabolism in the liver thereby lowering blood sugar, and promising trials in humans demonstrate that they are highly effective in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Many companies are now attempting to develop effective and safe GKAs for treating diabetics.