Scientists Find New Clues to Treating Diabetes

New Zealand researchers have mapped the atomic structure of a key enzyme involved in the body's metabolism of sugars, which may lead to the creation of a new class of drugs for treating diabetes.

Evidence suggests that diabetes is associated with changes in the metabolism of myo-inositol (MIOX). MIOX is the only enzyme known to break down inositol compounds and is a key regulator of inositol levels in the body. High levels of MIOX and the subsequent reduction in inositol are linked to hyperglycemia, an increase of glucose in the blood and a symptom of diabetes.

Combining biology and chemistry, researchers at the Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery (Auckland, New Zealand) have mapped the structure of MIOX. This will allow them to use rational drug design and medicinal chemistry to develop drugs that inhibit MIOX activity. Reduction of MIOX should normalize inositol levels and lower glucose levels in diabetics.

"Diabetes is a major problem, not just in New Zealand but globally,” said Professor Ted Baker, director of the Wilkins Centre. "It is through gathering knowledge of biological mechanisms that we can hope to treat and prevent diseases such as this effectively in the future. We are working with our partner Industrial Research Limited to use this knowledge of MIOX to develop drugs for the future treatment of diabetes.”

The Wilkens Centre for Molecular Biodsicovery is a New Zealand Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE), based at the University of Auckland. It brings together over 200 researchers from multidisciplinary teams to create a world-leading infrastructure for drug discovery and development.



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Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery