Nutrient-Based Chemical Library as a Source of Energy Metabolism Modulators

Abstract

Covalent conjugates of multiple nutrients often exhibit greater biological activities than each individual nutrient and more predictable safety profiles than completely unnatural chemical entities. Here, we report the construction and application of a focused chemical library of 308 covalent conjugates of a variety of small-molecule nutrients. Screening of the library with a reporter gene of sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP), a master regulator of mammalian lipogenesis, led to the discovery of a conjugate of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), glucosamine, and amino acids as an inhibitor of SREBP (molecule 1, DHG). Mechanistic analyses indicate that molecule 1 impairs the SREBP activity by inhibiting glucose transporters and thereby activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Oral administration of molecule 1 suppressed the intestinal absorption of glucose in mice. These results suggest that such synthetic libraries of nutrient conjugates serve as a source of novel chemical tools and pharmaceutical seeds that modulate energy metabolism.