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An In Ovo Model for Testing Insulin-mimetic Compounds
Published on: April 23, 2018
Small molecule glucokinase activators as glucose lowering agents: a new paradigm for diabetes therapy
Kevin R Guertin1, Joseph Grimsby
1Department of Discovery Chemistry, Roche Research Center, 340 Kingsland St., Nutley, New Jersey 07110, USA. kevin.guertin@roche.com
Abstract:
Glucokinase (GK) is a molecular sensor that regulates glucose induced insulin secretion in pancreatic beta-cells and glucose homeostasis in the liver via catalysis of glucose to glucose-6-phosphate. The recent discovery and development of small molecule glucokinase activators represents a potentially important development for the management of type 2 diabetes. Since the discovery of the first orally active small molecule GK activator RO0281675, a number of research groups have reported the identification of potent activators. In this review, the biological significance of GK in whole body glucose homeostasis is briefly described coupled with the recent progress regarding the identification of novel small molecule GK activators.
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