Small Molecule Disruptors of the Glucokinase-Glucokinase Regulatory Protein Interaction: 5. A Novel Aryl Sulfone Series, Optimization Through Conformational Analysis.
Tamayo, N.A., Norman, M.H., Bartberger, M.D., Hong, F.T., Bo, Y., Liu, L., Nishimura, N., Yang, K.C., Tadesse, S., Fotsch, C., Chen, J., Chmait, S., Cupples, R., Hale, C., Jordan, S.R., Lloyd, D.J., Sivits, G., Van, G., St Jean, D.J.(2015) J Med Chem 58: 4462-4482
- PubMed: 25914941 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/jm5018175
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
4OP1, 4OP2, 4OP3 - PubMed Abstract: 
The glucokinase-glucokinase regulatory protein (GK-GKRP) complex plays an important role in controlling glucose homeostasis in the liver. We have recently disclosed a series of arylpiperazines as in vitro and in vivo disruptors of the GK-GKRP complex with efficacy in rodent models of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Herein, we describe a new class of aryl sulfones as disruptors of the GK-GKRP complex, where the central piperazine scaffold has been replaced by an aromatic group. Conformational analysis and exploration of the structure-activity relationships of this new class of compounds led to the identification of potent GK-GKRP disruptors. Further optimization of this novel series delivered thiazole sulfone 93, which was able to disrupt the GK-GKRP interaction in vitro and in vivo and, by doing so, increases cytoplasmic levels of unbound GK.
Organizational Affiliation: 
†Department of Therapeutic Discovery-Medicinal Chemistry, ‡Department of Therapeutic Discovery-Molecular Structure and Characterization, §Department of Metabolic Disorders, ∥Department of Pharmacokinetics and Drug Metabolism, and ⊥Department of Pathology, Amgen, Inc., One Amgen Center Drive, Thousand Oaks, California 91320, United States.