Targeting Small GTPases and Their Prenylation in Diabetes Mellitus

J Med Chem. 2021 Jul 22;64(14):9677-9710. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00410. Epub 2021 Jul 8.

Abstract

A fundamental role of pancreatic β-cells to maintain proper blood glucose level is controlled by the Ras superfamily of small GTPases that undergo post-translational modifications, including prenylation. This covalent attachment with either a farnesyl or a geranylgeranyl group controls their localization, activity, and protein-protein interactions. Small GTPases are critical in maintaining glucose homeostasis acting in the pancreas and metabolically active tissues such as skeletal muscles, liver, or adipocytes. Hyperglycemia-induced upregulation of small GTPases suggests that inhibition of these pathways deserves to be considered as a potential therapeutic approach in treating T2D. This Perspective presents how inhibition of various points in the mevalonate pathway might affect protein prenylation and functioning of diabetes-affected tissues and contribute to chronic inflammation involved in diabetes mellitus (T2D) development. We also demonstrate the currently available molecular tools to decipher the mechanisms linking the mevalonate pathway's enzymes and GTPases with diabetes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / drug therapy*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / metabolism
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / chemistry
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins