[Glucokinase and glucokinase regulatory proteins as molecular targets for novel antidiabetic drugs].

The impairment of glucose homeostasis leads to hyperglycemia and type-2 diabetes mellitus. Glucokinase (GK), an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of glucose to glucose-6-phosphate in pancreatic ß-cells, liver hepatocytes, specific hypothalamic neurons, and intestine enterocytes, is a key regulator of glucose homeostasis. In hepatocytes, GK controls the glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis and inhibits the glucose synthesis via the gluconeogenesis pathway. Glucokinase regulatory protein (GKRP) synthesized in hepatocytes acts as an endogenous GK inhibitor. During fasting, GKRP binds GK, inactivates it, and transports it into the cell nucleus, thus isolating it from the hepatocyte carbohydrate metabolism. In the beginning of the 2000s, the research was mainly focused on the development and trials of the small molecule GK activators as potential antidiabetic glucose-lowering drugs. However, the use of such substances increased the risk of hypoglycemia, and clinical studies of most synthetic GK activators are currently discontinued. Allosteric inhibitors of the GK-GKRP interaction are coming as alternative agents increasing the GK activity that can substitute GKA. In this review, we discuss the recent advances and the current state of art in the development of potential antidiabetic drugs targeted to GK as a key regulator of glucose homeostasis.

[Functional characterization of two novel splicing mutations in glucokinase gene in monogenic diabetes MODY2].

Two novel mutations in glucokinase (GCK) gene-G to C substitution at -1 position of intron 7 acceptor splice site (c. 864-1G>C) and synonymous substitution c. 666C>G (GTC>GTG, p.V222V) in exon 6--were identified in patients with monogenic diabetes MODY2 (Maturity Onset Diabetes of Young). GCK minigenes with these mutations were constructed. Analysis of splicing products upon transfection of minigenes into human embryonic cell line HEK293 has shown that each of these nucleotide substitutions impair normal splicing. Mutation c.864-1G>C blocks the usage of normal acceptor site which activates cryptic acceptor splice sites within intron 7 and generates aberrant RNAs containing the portions ofintron 7. Synonymous substitution c.666C>G creates novel donor splice site in exon 6 that leads to formation of defective GCK mRNA with deletion of 16 nucleotides of exon 6. Analysis of in vitro splicing of minigenes confirms the inactivating action of novel mutations on glucokinase expression.

[Characterization of new splicing mutation in steroid 21-hydroxylase gene].

Novel mutation in CYP21A2 gene causing the steroid 21-hydroxylase deficiency - C to G substitution in 7-position ofintron 2 acceptor splice site (c.290-7C>G) was identified. The effect of the mutation on splicing was checked in the system of CYP21A minigene expression in the cultured mammalian cells. The mutation impairs the usage of intron 2 acceptor splice site resulting in intron retention.