Receptor binding sites of hypoglycemic sulfonylureas and related [(acylamino)alkyl]benzoic acids

The blood glucose level lowering activity of [(acylamino)ethyl]benzoic acids, such as p-[2-(5-chloro-2-methoxy-benzamido)ethyl]benzoic acid (HB699, 2), is discussed in terms of binding at putative insulin-releasing receptor sites of pancreatic beta cells. The hypoglycemic potencies found for synthetic analogues of 2 indicate that high hypoglycemic activity is only found when a carboxyl group or a group that is readily oxidized to carboxyl in vivo, such as methyl, is attached to the aromatic ring of the phenethyl group. It is proposed that this carboxyl group is able to bind at the same receptor site as the SO2NHCONH group of the sulfonylurea drugs, such as tolbutamide (3). The role of the benzamide group in 2 was attributed to protein binding.