As a potent O-GlcNAcase inhibitor that blocks phosphorylation of tau in vivo, The authors anticipate that Thiamet-G will find wide use in probing the functional role of O-GlcNAc in vertebrate brain, and it may also offer a route to blocking pathological
Biochem/physiol Actions
Thiamet G is a potent inhibitor of the enzyme O-GlcNAcase (Ki = 21 nM). The compound is orally bioavailable and crosses the blood brain barrier. Thiamet G leads to an increase in O-GlcNAc-modified proteins in cell-based and in vivo assay systems, and reduces levels of phosphorylated Tau protein in rat cortex and hippocampus.
