958237-68-8Relevant articles and documents
Naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenes as inhibitors of glycogen phosphorylase: Synthesis, structure-activity relationships, and X-ray crystallographic studies
Wen, Xiaoan,Sun, Hongbin,Liu, Jun,Cheng, Keguang,Zhang, Pu,Zhang, Liying,Hao, Jia,Zhang, Luyong,Ni, Peizhou,Zographos, Spyros E.,Leonidas, Demettes D.,Alexacou, Kyra-Melinda,Gimisis, Thanasis,Hayes, Joseph M.,Oikonomakos, Nikos G.
experimental part, p. 3540 - 3554 (2009/04/07)
Twenty-five naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenes, 15 of which were synthesized in this study, were biologically evaluated as inhibitors of rabbit muscle glycogen phosphorylase a (GPa). From SAR studies, the presence of a sugar moiety in triterpene saponins resulted in a markedly decreased activity (7, 18-20) or no activity (21, 22). These saponins, however, might find their value as potential natural prodrugs which are much more water-soluble than their corresponding aglycones. To elucidate the mechanism of GP inhibition, we have determined the crystal structures of the GPb-asiatic acid and GPb-maslinic acid complexes. The X-ray analysis indicates that the inhibitors bind at the allosteric activator site, where the physiological activator AMP binds. Pentacyclic triterpenes represent a promising class of multiple-target antidiabetic agents that exert hypoglycemic effects, at least in part, through GP inhibition.