Lipophilic iminosugars : synthesis and evaluation as inhibitors of glucosylceramide metabolism

Abstract

The study described in this thesis was conducted with the aim of developing lipophilic iminosugars as selective inhibitors for glucosylceramide synthase, glucocerbrosidase and _-glucosidase 2 that are enzymes involved in glucosylceramide metabolism. The study has resulted in many novel inhibitors of these three enzymes among which several that improve upon the inhibition profile of the lead compound in this study. The successful use of lipophilic iminosugars in type 2 diabetes models and the partial elucidation of their mechanism of action therein provide prospects for their development towards therapeutics for diabetes type 2.