1742-P: Targeting the Low Molecular Weight Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase for Obesity-Associated Diabetes Therapy

Obesity-associated insulin resistance plays a central role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. A promising approach to decrease insulin resistance in obesity is to inhibit the protein tyrosine phosphatases that negatively regulate insulin receptor signaling. The low molecular weight protein tyrosine phosphatase (LMPTP), encoded by the ACP1 gene, acts as a critical regulator of insulin signaling by dephosphorylating the activation motif of the insulin receptor. Human genetics studies suggest that high LMPTP catalytic activity promotes diabetes and insulin resistance in obesity. We recently discovered that LMPTP is a critical promoter of insulin resistance in obesity through an action on the liver and that pharmacological inhibition of LMPTP reverses obesity-induced diabetes in mice. Here we report our progress in the development of a new chemical series of LMPTP inhibitors that is orally bioavailable and effective at treating disease in obese diabetic mice.