Sulphonamides as inhibitors of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B: a three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship study using self-organizing molecular field analysis approach.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP 1B), a cytosolic PTP involved in down-regulation of receptor tyrosine kinase activity following stimulation of the insulin or leptin receptors. Thus, PTP 1B inhibitors could potentially ameliorate insulin resistance and normalize plasma glucose and insulin levels without inducing hypoglycemia, and could therefore be a major advancement in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. A three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) study has been performed on a novel class of sulphonamides using self-organizing molecular field analysis (SOMFA) to correlate their chemical structures with their observed PTP 1B inhibitory activities. The master grid obtained for the various SOMFA models indicates electrostatic and shape potential contributions that can be mapped back onto structural features relating to the trends in inhibitory activities. On the basis of the spatial arrangement, steric and electrostatic factors should appropriately be taken into account for development of new potent inhibitors of PTP 1B for the management of type 2 diabetes.