title: A phospho-BAD BH3 helix activates glucokinase by a mechanism distinct from that of allosteric activators.
abstract: Glucokinase (GK) is a glucose-phosphorylating enzyme that regulates insulin release and hepatic metabolism, and its loss of function is implicated in diabetes pathogenesis. GK activators (GKAs) are attractive therapeutics in diabetes; however, clinical data indicate that their benefits can be offset by hypoglycemia, owing to marked allosteric enhancement of the enzyme's glucose affinity. We show that a phosphomimetic of the BCL-2 homology 3 (BH3) α-helix derived from human BAD, a GK-binding partner, increases the enzyme catalytic rate without dramatically changing glucose affinity, thus providing a new mechanism for pharmacologic activation of GK. Remarkably, BAD BH3 phosphomimetic mediates these effects by engaging a new region near the enzyme's active site. This interaction increases insulin secretion in human islets and restores the function of naturally occurring human GK mutants at the active site. Thus, BAD phosphomimetics may serve as a new class of GKAs.
authors: 1] Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. [2].
authors: Benjamin
authors: B
authors: Szlyk
authors: 1] Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. [2].
authors: Craig R
authors: CR
authors: Braun
authors: 1] Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. [2] Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors: Sanda
authors: S
authors: Ljubicic
authors: Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors: Elaura
authors: E
authors: Patton
authors: Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors: Gregory H
authors: GH
authors: Bird
authors: Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors: Mayowa A
authors: MA
authors: Osundiji
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors: Franz M
authors: FM
authors: Matschinsky
authors: 1] Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. [2] Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. [3] Department of Pediatric Oncology, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors: Loren D
authors: LD
authors: Walensky
authors: 1] Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. [2] Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors: Nika N
authors: NN
authors: Danial
mesh_terms: D000494:Allosteric Regulation; D000818:Animals; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005941:Glucokinase / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D010750:Phosphoproteins; D005941:Glucokinase