Molecular and Genetic Medicine

Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase Inhibitor in Diabetes

Abstract

Chen Z*, Cui F, Meng L, Chen G, Li Z, Xu Y, Ma Z and Woldegiorgis G

This review addresses progress of carnitine palmitoyltransferase targeted pharmaceuticals in diabetes and the challenges ahead. Since the discovery of carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT), there are lots of publications on its role in disease. The wide tissue expression, functional and biological roles have documented the physiological importance of these enzymes both in health and disease. Thus, over the years, studies have revealed essential importance of CPT1 in mammalian pathophysiology revealing CPT1 as potential drug targets. Starting from a brief description of the main functional features of CPTs, their roles in physiology and pathophysiology of different human diseases, this review describes the main classes of small molecules which are able to regulate CPT1 for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.