New target for diabetes treatment and prevention

A method of treating or delaying the progression or onset of diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic neuropathy, diabetic nephropathy, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, obesity, and hyperinsulinaemia comprising the administration of a molecule inhibiting the binding of αPKC (Protein Kinase C alpha type) to ALMS1 (Alstrom syndrome protein 1) to a subject in need of treatment.

An in vitro or ex vivo method for identifying molecules suitable for use for treating or delaying the progression or onset of diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic neuropathy, diabetic nephropathy, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, obesity, and hyperinsulinaemia, comprising contacting said molecules with αPKC and ALMS1 and detecting the capacity of the molecules to inhibit the binding of αPKC to ALMS1.

A method of treating or delaying the progression or onset of diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic neuropathy, diabetic nephropathy, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, obesity, and hyperinsulinaemia comprising administering a molecule that increases the expression of ALMS1 or enhances the binding of TBC1D4 to ALMS1 to a subject in need of treatment.

A pharmaceutical composition comprising a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of a fragment of ALMS1 as set forth in SEQ ID No 1 wherein the peptide comprises at least one substitution or one unnatural amino acid or a moiety facilitating its cellular uptake or entry.

A pharmaceutical composition comprising a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of a fragment of αPKC as set forth in SEQ ID No 4 wherein the peptide comprises at least one substitution or one unnatural amino acid or a moiety facilitating its cellular uptake or entry.