Discovery and Structure-Guided Optimization of Diarylmethanesulfonamide Disrupters of Glucokinase–Glucokinase Regulatory Protein (GK–GKRP) Binding: Strategic Use of a N → S (nN → σ*S–X) Interaction for Conformational Constraint

The HTS-based discovery and structure-guided optimization of a novel series of GKRP-selective GK–GKRP disrupters are revealed. Diarylmethane­sulfonamide hit 6 (hGK–hGKRP IC50 = 1.2 μM) was optimized to lead compound 32 (AMG-0696; hGK–hGKRP IC50 = 0.0038 μM). A stabilizing interaction between a nitrogen atom lone pair and an aromatic sulfur system (nN → σ*S–X) in 32 was exploited to conformationally constrain a biaryl linkage and allow contact with key residues in GKRP. Lead compound 32 was shown to induce GK translocation from the nucleus to the cytoplasm in rats (IHC score = 0; 10 mg/kg po, 6 h) and blood glucose reduction in mice (POC = −45%; 100 mg/kg po, 3 h). X-ray analyses of 32 and several precursors bound to GKRP were also obtained. This novel disrupter of GK–GKRP binding enables further exploration of GKRP as a potential therapeutic target for type II diabetes and highlights the value of exploiting unconventional nonbonded interactions in drug design.