| abstract |
Compositions and methods are disclosed that relate to small molecule lipopeptidomimetic inhibitors of mammalian ghrelin O-acyl transferase (GOAT). Compounds of general Formula (I) and substructures thereof, i.e ., Formulae (II), (IIa), (IIa1), (IIa2), (IIb), (IIb1), (IIb2), (IIc) and (III), are shown to exhibit potent inhibition of the octanoylation of ghrelin peptide, where the resulting non-octanoylated (des-acyl) form of ghrelin lacks GHSr ligand activity that is associated with weight gain and insulin resistance. These and related embodiments will find uses for treating subjects known to have, or suspected of being at risk for having, a condition that would benefit from a decreased level of acylated ghrelin peptide, such as type II diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) and obesity. |