G PROTEIN COUPLED RECEPTOR 39 (GPR39)

摘要

The present invention relates to the functional characterization of the G protein coupled receptor GPR39 and to compounds, which modify or regulate GPR39 protein activity. In particular the present invention relates to methods of screening for agonists or antagonists of GPR39 in order to identify compounds capable of modulating carbohydrate metabolism and to the therapeutic uses of these compounds. In particular to the use of GPR39 in methods to identify compounds that are capable to enhance glucose control in a subject and which are effective for preventing and/or treating pathologies related with an impaired carbohydrate metabolism, in particular in the prevention and/or treatment of diabetes including associated complications thereof, or of the metabolic syndrome including associated complications thereof. Including Type 1 (insulin-dependent or IDDM), Type 2 (non- insulin- dependent diabetes mellitus), maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) and gestational diabetes.