Circumventing seizure activity in a series of G protein coupled receptor 119 (GPR119) agonists.

Agonism of GPR119 is viewed as a potential therapeutic approach for the treatment of type II diabetes and other elements of metabolic syndrome. During progression of a previously disclosed candidate 1 through mice toxicity studies, we observed tonic-clonic convulsions in several mice at high doses. An in vitro hippocampal brain slice assay was used to assess the seizure liability of subsequent compounds, leading to the identification of an aryl sulfone as a replacement for the 3-cyano pyridyl group.

GPR120 (FFAR4) is preferentially expressed in pancreatic delta cells and regulates somatostatin secretion from murine islets of Langerhans.

Aims/hypothesis: The NEFA-responsive G-protein coupled receptor 120 (GPR120) has been implicated in the regulation of inflammation, in the control of incretin secretion and as a predisposing factor influencing the development of type 2 diabetes by regulation of islet cell apoptosis. However, there is still considerable controversy about the tissue distribution of GPR120 and, in particular, it remains unclear which islet cell types express this molecule. In the present study, we have addressed this issue by constructing a Gpr120-knockout/β-galactosidase (LacZ) knock-in (KO/KI) mouse to examine the distribution and functional role of GPR120 in the endocrine pancreas.

Conformational restriction in a series of GPR119 agonists: differences in pharmacology between mouse and human.

A series of conformationally restricted GPR119 agonists were prepared based around a 3,8-diazabicyclo[3.2.1]octane scaffold.

Cysteine proteases: mode of action and role in epidermal differentiation.

Desquamation or cell shedding in mammalian skin is known to involve serine proteases, aspartic proteases and glycosidases. In addition, evidence continues to accumulate that papain-like cysteine proteases and an inhibitor cystatin M/E largely confined to the cutaneous epithelia also play key roles in the process. This involves the complete proteolysis of cell adhesive structures of the stratum corneum, the corneodesmosomes and notably of the desmogleins.

Use of small-molecule crystal structures to address solubility in a novel series of G protein coupled receptor 119 agonists: optimization of a lead and in vivo evaluation.

G protein coupled receptor 119 (GPR119) is viewed as an attractive target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and other elements of the metabolic syndrome. During a program toward discovering agonists of GPR119, we herein describe optimization of an initial lead compound, 2, into a development candidate, 42. A key challenge in this program of work was the insolubility of the lead compound.