abstract |
The application relates to the purification and characterisation of a family of P-type inositolphosphoglycans (IPGs) from human liver and placenta. These substances are shown to have P-type biological activity, e.g. activating pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) phosphatase. The characterisation of the compounds demonstrates that they contain metal ions, in particular Mn2+ and/or Zn2+, and optionally phosphate. The compounds and their antagonists have uses as pharmaceuticals, e.g. for the treatment of diabetes, and in screening for synthetic analogues. |