PMID: 19059404

Authors:

Nakaishi Y, Bando M, Shimizu H, Watanabe K, Goto F, Tsuge H, Kondo K, Komatsu M

Title:

Structural analysis of human glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase, a key regulator in type 2 diabetes.

Journal:

FEBS Lett. 2009 Jan 5;583(1):163-7. Epub 2008 Dec 6.

Abstract:

Glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase (GFAT) is a rate-limiting enzyme in the hexoamine biosynthetic pathway and plays an important role in type 2 diabetes. We now report the first structures of the isomerase domain of the human GFAT in the presence of cyclic glucose-6-phosphate and linear glucosamine-6-phosphate. The C-terminal tail including the active site displays a rigid conformation, similar to the corresponding Escherichia coli enzyme. The diversity of the CF helix near the active site suggests the helix is a major target for drug design. Our study provides insights into the development of therapeutic drugs for type 2 diabetes.