For the first time, a three-dimensional model of the insulin receptor is used in the de novo design of novel ligands that potentially mimic interactions of insulin at its receptor. Compound 4 competed with insulin as seen in autophosphorylation assays and inhibited up to 68% of IR autophosphorylation at 300 μM of 4 in 3T3IR cells induced by 1 nM insulin. This model provides a basis for the design of potent insulin receptor ligands.
[Smits, Rogier A.; Adami, Maristella; Istyastono, Enade P.; Zuiderveld, Obbe P.; Van Dam, Cindy M. E.; De Kanter, Frans J. J.; Jongejan, Aldo; Coruzzi, Gabriella; Leurs, Rob; De Esch, Iwan J. P. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2010 , vol. 53, # 6 p. 2390 - 2400]