In silico structure-based design of a potent and selective small peptide inhibitor of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B, a novel therapeutic target for obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus: a computer modeling approach

Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) has been shown to be a negative regulator of insulin signaling by dephosphorylating key tyrosine residues within the regulatory domain of the beta-subunit of the insulin receptor. Recent gene knockout studies in mice have shown the mice to have increased insulin sensitivity and improved glucose tolerance. Furthermore, these mice also exhibited a resistance to diet induced obesity. Inhibitors of PTP1B would have the potential of enhancing insulin action by prolonging the phosphorylated state of the insulin receptor. In addition, recent clinical studies have shown that the haplotype ACTTCAG0 of the PTPN1 gene, which encodes PTP1B, is a major risk contributor to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Thus, there is compelling evidence that small molecule inhibitors of PTP1B may be effective in treating insulin resistance at an early stage, thereby leading to a prevention strategy for T2DM and obesity. Based on the crystal structure of the complex of PTP1B with a known inhibitor, we have identified a tetrapeptide inhibitor with the sequence WKPD. Docking calculations indicate that this peptide is as potent as the existing inhibitors. Moreover, the peptide is also found to be selective for PTP1B with a greatly reduced potency against other biologically important protein tyrosine phosphatases such as PTP-LAR, Calcineurin, and the highly homologous T-Cell Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase (TCPTP). Thus the designed tetrapeptide is a suitable lead compound for the development of new drugs against type 2 diabetes and obesity.     

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibitors as antidiabetic agents – A brief review

Diabetes mellitus and obesity are one of the most common health issues spread throughout world and raised the medical attention to find the new effective agents to treat these disease state. Occurrence of the drug resistance to the insulin and leptin receptor is also challenging major issues. The molecules that can overcome this resistance problem could be effective for the treatment of both type II diabetes and obesity. Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase (PTP) has emerged as new promising targets for therapeutic purpose in recent years. Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B (PTP 1B) act as a negative regulator of insulin and leptin receptor signalling pathways. Several approaches have been successfully applied to find out potent and selective inhibitors. This article reviews PTP 1B inhibitors; natural, synthetic and semi-synthetic that showed inhibition towards enzyme as a major target for the management of type II diabetes. These studies could be contributing the future development of PTP 1B inhibitors as drugs.     

Essential role of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B in obesity-induced inflammation and peripheral insulin resistance during aging

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is a negative regulator of insulin signaling and a therapeutic target for type 2 diabetes (T2DM). In this study, we have evaluated the role of PTP1B in the development of aging-associated obesity, inflammation, and peripheral insulin resistance by assessing metabolic parameters at 3 and 16 months in PTP1B(-/-) mice maintained on mixed genetic background (C57Bl/6J × 129Sv/J). Whereas fat mass and adipocyte size were increased in wild-type control mice at 16 months, these parameters did not change with aging in PTP1B(-/-) mice. Increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, crown-like structures, and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α were observed only in adipose tissue from 16-month-old wild-type mice. Similarly, islet hyperplasia and hyperinsulinemia were observed in wild-type mice with aging-associated obesity, but not in PTP1B(-/-) animals. Leanness in 16-month-old PTP1B(-/-) mice was associated with increased energy expenditure. Whole-body insulin sensitivity decreased in 16-month-old control mice; however, studies with the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp revealed that PTP1B deficiency prevented this obesity-related decreased peripheral insulin sensitivity. At a molecular level, PTP1B expression and enzymatic activity were up-regulated in liver and muscle of 16-month-old wild-type mice as were the activation of stress kinases and the expression of p53. Conversely, insulin receptor-mediated Akt/Foxo1 signaling was attenuated in these aged control mice. Collectively, these data implicate PTP1B in the development of inflammation and insulin resistance associated with obesity during aging and suggest that inhibition of this phosphatase by therapeutic strategies might protect against age-dependent T2DM.     

Docking of oxalyl aryl amino benzoic acid derivatives into PTP1B

Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases (PTPs) that function as negative regulators of the insulin signaling cascade have been identified as novel targets for the therapeutic enhancement of insulin action in insulin resistant disease states. Reducing Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase1B (PTP1B) abundance not only enhances insulin sensitivity and improves glucose metabolism but also protects against obesity induced by high fat feeding. PTP1B inhibitors such as Formylchromone derivatives, 1, 2-Naphthoquinone derivatives and Oxalyl aryl amino benzoic derivatives may eventually find an important clinical role as insulin sensitizers in the management of Type-II Diabetes and metabolic syndrome. We have carried out docking of modified oxalyl aryl amino benzoic acid derivatives into three dimensional structure of PTP1B using BioMed CAChe 6.1. These compounds exhibit good selectivity for PTP1B over most of phosphatases in selectivity panel such as SHP-2, LAR, CD45 and TCPTP found in literature. This series of compounds identified the amino acid residues such as Gly220 and Arg221 are important for achieving specificity via H-bonding interactions. Lipophilic side chain of methionine in modified oxalyl aryl amino benzoic acid derivative [1b (a2, b2, c1, d)] lies in closer vicinity of hydrophobic region of protein consisted of Meth258 and Phe52 in comparison to active ligand. Docking Score in [1b (a2, b2, c1, d)] is -131.740Kcal/mol much better than active ligand score -98.584Kcal/mol. This information can be exploited to design PTP1B specific inhibitors.     

Deletion of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) Enhances Endothelial Cyclooxygenase 2 Expression and Protects Mice from Type 1 Diabetes-Induced Endothelial Dysfunction

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) dephosphorylates receptors tyrosine kinase and acts as a molecular brake on insulin signaling pathway. Conditions of metabolic dysfunction increase PTP1B, when deletion of PTP1B protects against metabolic disorders by increasing insulin signaling. Although vascular insulin signaling contributes to the control of glucose disposal, little is known regarding the direct role of PTP1B in the control of endothelial function. We hypothesized that metabolic dysfunctions increase PTP1B expression in endothelial cells and that PTP1B deletion prevents endothelial dysfunction in situation of diminished insulin secretion. Type I diabetes (T1DM) was induced in wild-type (WT) and PTP1B-deficient mice (KO) with streptozotocin (STZ) injection. After 28 days of T1DM, KO mice exhibited a similar reduction in body weight and plasma insulin levels and a comparable increase in glycemia (WT: 384±20 vs. Ko: 432±29 mg/dL), cholesterol and triglycerides, as WT mice. T1DM increased PTP1B expression and impaired endothelial NO-dependent relaxation, in mouse aorta. PTP1B deletion did not affect baseline endothelial function, but preserved endothelium-dependent relaxation, in T1DM mice. NO synthase inhibition with L-NAME abolished endothelial relaxation in control and T1DM WT mice, whereas L-NAME and the cyclooxygenases inhibitor indomethacin were required to abolish endothelium relaxation in T1DM KO mice. PTP1B deletion increased COX-2 expression and PGI₂ levels, in mouse aorta and plasma respectively, in T1DM mice. In parallel, simulation of diabetic conditions increased PTP1B expression and knockdown of PTP1B increased COX-2 but not COX-1 expression, in primary human aortic endothelial cells. Taken together these data indicate that deletion of PTP1B protected endothelial function by compensating the reduction in NO bioavailability by increasing COX-2-mediated release of the vasodilator prostanoid PGI₂, in T1DM mice.     

蛋白质酪氨酸磷酸酶1B（PTP1B）与2型糖尿病及肥胖的关系

蛋白质酪氨酸磷酸酶1B（PTP1B）是一种在体内广泛表达的胞内蛋白质酪氨酸磷酸酶,在调节胰岛素敏感性和能量代谢的过程中起着重要作用。通过抑制PTP1B可增加胰岛素和瘦蛋白（leptin）的活性, 为寻找2型糖尿病、肥胖的治疗提供了光明前景。     

Synthesis of functionalized acetophenones as protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibitors

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is an enzyme that plays a critical role in down-regulating insulin signaling through dephosphorylation of the insulin receptor. Studies have shown that PTP1B knock-out mice showed increased insulin sensitivity in muscle and liver as well as resistance to obesity. A series of functionalized acetophenones were synthesized and evaluated for their PTP1B inhibitory activity. Some of the screened compounds displayed good inhibitory activity.     

Ursolic acid and its derivative inhibit protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B, enhancing insulin receptor phosphorylation and stimulating glucose uptake

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is a key element in the negative regulation of the insulin signaling pathway and may play an important role in diabetes and obesity. We identified ursolic acid, a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid that occurs widely in traditional Chinese medicinal herbs, as an inhibitor of PTP1B by screening an extract library of the traditional Chinese medicinal herbs used a diabetes clinic. By modifying urosolic acid, we designed and synthesized a derivative with a K(i) of 283 nM. As competitive inhibitors of PTP1B, ursolic acid and its derivative also inhibit T-cell protein tyrosine phosphatase and src homology phosphatase-2 but not leucocyte antigen-related phosphatase or protein tyrosine phosphatase alpha and epsilon, which are all possibly involved in the insulin pathway. The ursolic acid derivative enhanced insulin receptor phosphorylation in CHO/hIR cells and stimulate glucose uptake in L6 myotubes.     

Novel protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibitors: interaction requirements for improved intracellular efficacy in type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity control

Resistance to the hormones insulin and leptin are hallmarks in common for type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity. Both conditions are associated with increased activity and expression of protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP)1B. Therefore, inhibition of PTP1B activity or down-regulation of its expression should ameliorate insulin and leptin resistance, and may hold therapeutic utility in type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity control. This background has motivated the fervent search for PTP1B inhibitors, carried out in the recent years. The purpose of this review is to provide the most recent advances in understanding the structural details of PTP1B molecule relevant to the interactions with inhibitors, and the progress towards compounds with enhanced membrane permeability, affinity, specificity, and potency on intracellular PTP1B; several inhibitors of benefit in type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity control are presented and discussed.     

Design and evaluation of non-carboxylate 5-arylidene-2-thioxo-4-imidazolidinones as novel non-competitive inhibitors of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) acts as a negative regulator of insulin and leptin signalling and is crucially involved in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Pursuing our efforts to identify PTP1B inhibitors endowed with drug-like properties, we designed and evaluated 3-aryl-5-arylidene-2-thioxo-4-imidazolidinones (7) as a novel class of non-carboxylate PTP1B inhibitors. In agreement with our design, kinetic studies demonstrated that selected compounds 7 act as reversible, non-competitive inhibitors of the target enzyme at low micromolar concentrations. Accordingly, molecular docking experiments suggested that these inhibitors can fit an allosteric site of PTP1B that we previously individuated. Moreover, cellular assays demonstrated that compound 7e acts as a potent insulin-sensitizing agent in human liver HepG2 cells. Taken together, our results showed that these non-competitive PTP1B inhibitors can be considered promising lead compounds aimed to enhance druggability of the target enzyme and identify novel antidiabetic drugs.     

Enzyme occupancy measurement of intracellular protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B using photoaffinity probes

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is believed to be one of the enzymes involved in down-regulating the insulin receptor and is a drug target for the treatment of type II diabetes. To better understand the in vitro and in vivo behavior of PTP1B inhibitors, a cell-based assay to directly measure enzyme occupancy of PTP1B by inhibitors using photoaffinity labeling was developed. Two photoaffinity probes were synthesized containing the photolabile diazirine moiety. These photoprobes were specific for PTP1B and T-cell protein tyrosine phosphatase over CD45, with the most potent photoprobe having an IC(50) value of 0.2nM for PTP1B. Activation of the photoprobes with a 40-W UV lamp in the presence of purified AspTyrLysAspAspAspAspLys (Flag)-PTP1B formed a 1:1 irreversible adduct with the enzyme. The photolabeling was competed by known PTP1B inhibitors, vanadate, and the peptide inhibitor N-benzoyl-l-glutamyl-[4-phosphono(difluoromethyl)]-l-phenylalanyl-[4-phosphono(difluoromethyl)]l-phenylalanineamide (BzN-EJJ-amide). In HepG2 (human hepatoma cell line) cells, endogenous PTP1B was labeled by the UV-activated photoprobes in both lysed and intact cells. Enzyme occupancy measurements were conducted with a series of PTP1B inhibitors using the photoprobe affinity assay. Several compounds were shown to bind to endogenous PTP1B in the HepG2 intact cells.     

The structural basis for the selectivity of benzotriazole inhibitors of PTP1B

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) has been implicated in the regulation of the insulin signaling pathway and represents an attractive target for the design of inhibitors in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Inspection of the structure of PTP1B indicates that potent PTP1B inhibitors may be obtained by targeting a secondary aryl phosphate-binding site as well as the catalytic site. We report here the crystal structures of PTP1B in complex with first and second generation aryldifluoromethyl-phosphonic acid inhibitors. While all compounds bind in a previously unexploited binding pocket near the primary binding site, the second generation compounds also reach into the secondary binding site, and exhibit moderate selectivity for PTP1B over the closely related T-cell phosphatase. The molecular basis for the selectivity has been confirmed by single point mutation at position 52, where the two phosphatases differ by a phenylalanine-to-tyrosine switch. These compounds present a novel platform for the development of potent and selective PTP1B inhibitors.     

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibits adipocyte differentiation and mediates TNFα action in obesity

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is a negative regulator of systemic glucose and insulin homeostasis; however, its exact role in adipocytes is poorly understood. This study was to elucidate the role of PTP1B in adipocyte differentiation and its implication in obesity. During differentiation of 3T3-L1 white preadipocytes, PTP1B decreased progressively with adipocyte maturation. Lentivirus-mediated PTP1B overexpression in preadipocytes delayed adipocyte differentiation, shown as lack of mature adipocytes, low level of lipid accumulation, and down-regulation of main markers (PPARγ2, SREBP-1c, FAS and LPL). In contrast, lentivirus-mediated PTP1B knockdown accelerated adipocyte differentiation, demonstrated as full of mature adipocytes, high level of lipid accumulation, and up-regulation of main markers. Dominant-negative inhibition on endogenous PTP1B by lentivirus-mediated overexpression of PTP1B double mutant in Tyr-46 and Asp-181 residues (LV-D/A-Y/F) also stimulated adipogenesis, more efficient than PTP1B knockdown. Diet-induced obesity mice exhibited an up-regulation of PTP1B and TNFα accompanied by a down-regulation of PPARγ2 in white adipose tissue. TNFα recombinant protein impeded PTP1B reduction and inhibited adipocyte differentiation in vitro; this inhibitory effect was prevented by LV-D/A-Y/F. Moreover, PTP1B inhibitor treatment improved adipogenesis and suppressed TNFα in adipose tissue of obese mice. All together, PTP1B negatively regulates adipocyte development and may mediate TNFα action to impair adipocyte differentiation in obesity. Our study provides novel evidence for the importance of PTP1B in obesity and for the potential application of PTP1B inhibitors.     

Small molecule peptidomimetics containing a novel phosphotyrosine bioisostere inhibit protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B and augment insulin action

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) attenuates insulin signaling by catalyzing dephosphorylation of insulin receptors (IR) and is an attractive target of potential new drugs for treating the insulin resistance that is central to type II diabetes. Several analogues of cholecystokinin(26)(-)(33) (CCK-8) were found to be surprisingly potent inhibitors of PTP1B, and a common N-terminal tripeptide, N-acetyl-Asp-Tyr(SO(3)H)-Nle-, was shown to be necessary and sufficient for inhibition. This tripeptide was modified to reduce size and peptide character, and to replace the metabolically unstable sulfotyrosyl group. This led to the discovery of a novel phosphotyrosine bioisostere, 2-carboxymethoxybenzoic acid, and to analogues that were >100-fold more potent than the CCK-8 analogues and >10-fold selective for PTP1B over two other PTP enzymes (LAR and SHP-2), a dual specificity phosphatase (cdc25b), and a serine/threonine phosphatase (calcineurin). These inhibitors disrupted the binding of PTP1B to activated IR in vitro and prevented the loss of tyrosine kinase (IRTK) activity that accompanied PTP1B-catalyzed dephosphorylation of IR. Introduction of these poorly cell permeant inhibitors into insulin-treated cells by microinjection (oocytes) or by esterification to more lipophilic proinhibitors (3T3-L1 adipocytes and L6 myocytes) resulted in increased potency, but not efficacy, of insulin. In some instances, PTP1B inhibitors were insulin-mimetic, suggesting that in unstimulated cells PTP1B may suppress basal IRTK activity. X-ray crystallography of PTP1B-inhibitor complexes revealed that binding of an inhibitor incorporating phenyl-O-malonic acid as a phosphotyrosine bioisostere occurred with the mobile WPD loop in the open conformation, while a closely related inhibitor with a 2-carboxymethoxybenzoic acid bioisostere bound with the WPD loop closed, perhaps accounting for its superior potency. These CCK-derived peptidomimetic inhibitors of PTP1B represent a novel template for further development of potent, selective inhibitors, and their cell activity further justifies the selection of PTP1B as a therapeutic target.     

Beyond the Metabolic Function of PTP1B

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) has been implicated as a negative regulator of multiple signaling pathways downstream of receptor tyrosine kinases. Gene-targeting studies in mice have established PTP1B as a major target in diabetes and obesity. Initially, inhibition of this enzyme was thought to potentially lead to increased oncogenic signaling, but mice lacking PTP1B do not develop tumors. Our recent results show that loss of PTP1B can lead to decreased Ras signaling, despite enhanced signaling of other pathways. Here, we discuss how these findings implicate PTP1B as a positive and negative regulator of oncogenesis.     

Beyond the metabolic function of PTP1B

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) has been implicated as a negative regulator of multiple signaling pathways downstream of receptor tyrosine kinases. Gene-targeting studies in mice have established PTP1B as a major target in diabetes and obesity. Initially, inhibition of this enzyme was thought to potentially lead to increased oncogenic signaling, but mice lacking PTP1B do not develop tumors. Our recent results show that loss of PTP1B can lead to decreased Ras signaling, despite enhanced signaling of other pathways. Here, we discuss how these findings implicate PTP1B as a positive and negative regulator of oncogenesis.     

Protein tyrosine phosphatases: the quest for negative regulators of insulin action

Type 2 diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate worldwide, and there has been a considerable effort in several laboratories to identify suitable targets for the design of drugs against the disease. To this end, the protein tyrosine phosphatases that attenuate insulin signaling by dephosphorylating the insulin receptor (IR) have been actively pursued. This is because inhibiting the phosphatases would be expected to prolong insulin signaling and thereby facilitate glucose uptake and, presumably, result in a lowering of blood glucose. Targeting the IR protein tyrosine phosphatase, therefore, has the potential to be a significant disease-modifying strategy. Several protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) have been implicated in the dephosphorylation of the IR. These phosphatases include PTPalpha, LAR, CD45, PTPepsilon, SHP2, and PTP1B. In most cases, there is evidence for and against the involvement of the phosphatases in insulin signaling. The most convincing data, however, support a critical role for PTP1B in insulin action. PTP1B knockout mice are not only insulin sensitive but also maintain euglycemia (in the fed state), with one-half the level of insulin observed in wild-type littermates. Interestingly, these mice are also resistant to diet-induced obesity when fed a high-fat diet. The insulin-sensitive phenotype of the PTP1B knockout mouse is reproduced when the phosphatase is also knocked down with an antisense oligonucleotide in obese mice. Thus PTP1B appears to be a very attractive candidate for the design of drugs for type 2 diabetes and obesity.     

4-Quinolone-3-carboxylic acids as cell-permeable inhibitors of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B is a negative regulator in the insulin and leptin signaling pathways, and has emerged as an attractive target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. However, the essential pharmacophore of charged phosphotyrosine or its mimetic confer low selectivity and poor cell permeability. Starting from our previously reported aryl diketoacid-based PTP1B inhibitors, a drug-like scaffold of 4-quinolone-3-carboxylic acid was introduced for the first time as a novel surrogate of phosphotyrosine. An optimal combination of hydrophobic groups installed at C-6, N-1 and C-3 positions of the quinolone motif afforded potent PTP1B inhibitors with low micromolar IC₅₀ values. These 4-quinolone-3-carboxylate based PTP1B inhibitors displayed a 2–10 fold selectivity over a panel of PTP’s. Furthermore, the bidentate inhibitors of 4-quinolone-3-carboxylic acids conjugated with aryl diketoacid or salicylic acid were cell permeable and enhanced insulin signaling in CHO/hIR cells. The kinetic studies and molecular modeling suggest that the 4-quinolone-3-carboxylates act as competitive inhibitors by binding to the PTP1B active site in the WPD loop closed conformation. Taken together, our study shows that the 4-quinolone-3-carboxylic acid derivatives exhibit improved pharmacological properties over previously described PTB1B inhibitors and warrant further preclinical studies.     

The design strategy of selective PTP1B inhibitors over TCPTP

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) has already been well studied as a highly validated therapeutic target for diabetes and obesity. However, the lack of selectivity limited further studies and clinical applications of PTP1B inhibitors, especially over T-cell protein tyrosine phosphatase (TCPTP). In this review, we enumerate the published specific inhibitors of PTP1B, discuss the structure–activity relationships by analysis of their X-ray structures or docking results, and summarize the characteristic of selectivity related residues and groups. Furthermore, the design strategy of selective PTP1B inhibitors over TCPTP is also proposed. We hope our work could provide an effective way to gain specific PTP1B inhibitors.