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Nataraja S, Yu H, Guner J, Palmer S. Discovery and Preclinical Development of Orally Active Small Molecules that Exhibit Highly Selective Follicle Stimulating Hormone Receptor Agonism. Front Pharmacol 2021; 11:602593. [PMID: 33519465 PMCID: PMC7845544 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.602593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
An orally active follicle stimulating hormone receptor allosteric agonist would provide a preferred treatment for over 16 million infertile women of reproductive age in low complexity methods (ovulation induction-intrauterine insemination) or in high complexity methods (controlled ovarian stimulation-in vitro fertilization). We present two oral follicle stimulating hormone receptor allosteric agonist compounds that have the desired pharmacology, drug metabolism, pharmacokinetics, and safety profile for clinical use. These molecules provide a single agent suitable for ovulation induction-intrauterine insemination or controlled ovarian stimulation-in vitro fertilization that is more convenient for patients and achieves similar preclinical efficacy as rec-hFSH. TOP5668, TOP5300 were evaluated in vitro in Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with individual glycoprotein receptors measuring cAMP (FSHR, LH/CGR, thyroid stimulating hormone receptor). TOP5668 was found to have solely follicle stimulating hormone receptor allosteric agonist activity while TOP5300 was found to have mixed follicle stimulating hormone receptor allosteric agonist and LHR-AA activity. Both compounds stimulated concentration-dependent increases in estradiol production from cultured rat granulosa cells in the presence or absence of low dose rec-hFSH, while only TOP5300 stimulated testosterone production from rat primary Leydig cells. In pooled human granulosa cells obtained from patients undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation-in vitro fertilization, TOP5300 stimulated 7-fold greater maximal estradiol response than rec-hFSH and TOP5668 was 10-fold more potent than TOP5300. Both TOP5300 and TOP5668 stimulated follicular development in immature rat to the same efficacy as recombinant follicle stimulating hormone. In mice treated with TOP5300, in the presence of low dose of follicle stimulating hormone, there were no differences in oocyte number, fertilization rate, and hatched blastocyst rate in mice with TOP5300 and low dose follicle stimulating hormone vs. reference proteins pregnant mare serum gonadotropin or high dose rec-hFSH. ADME/PK and safety profiles were favorable. In addition, there was no appreciable activity on thyroid hormones by TOP5300 in 14-days toxicological study in rat or dog. The selected lead compound, TOP5300 stimulated a more robust increase in estradiol production from granulosa-lutein cells from women with polycystic ovarian syndrome patient compared to rec-hFSH. Conclusions: Two novel oral FSHR allosteric agonist, TOP5668 and TOP5300, were found to mimic the biological activity of rec hFSH in preclinical studies. Both compounds led to folliculogenesis and superovulation in rat and mice. Specifically, TOP5300 led to a similar number of ovulated oocytes that fertilized and developed into hatched blastocysts in mice when compared to rec-hFSH. The safety profile demonstrated lack of toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Joie Guner
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Stephen Palmer
- TocopheRx, Inc., Groton, MA, United States
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
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2
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Hoogendoorn S, van Puijvelde GHM, van der Marel GA, van Koppen CJ, Timmers CM, Overkleeft HS. Fluorescent small-molecule agonists as follicle-stimulating hormone receptor imaging tools. RSC Chem Biol 2020; 1:263-272. [PMID: 34458765 PMCID: PMC8341919 DOI: 10.1039/d0cb00068j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Fluorescent cell surface receptor agonists allow visualization of processes that are set in motion by receptor activation. This study describes the synthesis of two fluorescent, low molecular weight ligands for the follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR), based on a dihydropyridine (DHP) agonist. We show that both BODIPY- and Cy5-conjugated DHP (m-DHP-BDP and m-DHP-Cy5) are potent FSHR agonists, able to activate receptor signalling with nanomolar potencies and to effect receptor internalisation at higher concentrations. FSHR-dependent uptake of m-DHP-Cy5 is in stark contrast to the cellular uptake of m-DHP-BDP which was efficiently internalised also in the absence of FSHR. Our results comprise a first-in-class fluorescent low molecular weight ligand for in situ FSHR imaging and pertain the potential means for targeted delivery of drugs into the endolysosomal pathway of FSHR-expressing cells. Discovery of a potent, small-molecule, fluorescent agonist of the follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) for selective staining of FSHR-expressing cells.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Sascha Hoogendoorn
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University Einsteinweg 55 2300 RA Leiden The Netherlands
| | - Gijs H M van Puijvelde
- Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University Einsteinweg 55 2300 RA Leiden The Netherlands
| | - Gijs A van der Marel
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University Einsteinweg 55 2300 RA Leiden The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Herman S Overkleeft
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University Einsteinweg 55 2300 RA Leiden The Netherlands
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Sahu B, Shah S, Prabhudesai K, Contini A, Idicula-Thomas S. Discovery of small molecule binders of human FSHR(TMD) with novel structural scaffolds by integrating structural bioinformatics and machine learning algorithms. J Mol Graph Model 2019; 89:156-166. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2019.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Anderson RC, Newton CL, Anderson RA, Millar RP. Gonadotropins and Their Analogs: Current and Potential Clinical Applications. Endocr Rev 2018; 39:911-937. [PMID: 29982442 DOI: 10.1210/er.2018-00052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The gonadotropin receptors LH receptor and FSH receptor play a central role in governing reproductive competency/fertility. Gonadotropin hormone analogs have been used clinically for decades in assisted reproductive therapies and in the treatment of various infertility disorders. Though these treatments are effective, the clinical protocols demand multiple injections, and the hormone preparations can lack uniformity and stability. The past two decades have seen a drive to develop chimeric and modified peptide analogs with more desirable pharmacokinetic profiles, with some displaying clinical efficacy, such as corifollitropin alfa, which is now in clinical use. More recently, low-molecular-weight, orally active molecules with activity at gonadotropin receptors have been developed. Some have excellent characteristics in animals and in human studies but have not reached the market-largely as a result of acquisitions by large pharma. Nonetheless, such molecules have the potential to mitigate risks currently associated with gonadotropin-based fertility treatments, such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and the demands of injection-based therapies. There is also scope for novel use beyond the current remit of gonadotropin analogs in fertility treatments, including application as novel contraceptives; in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome; in the restoration of function to inactivating mutations of gonadotropin receptors; in the treatment of ovarian and prostate cancers; and in the prevention of bone loss and weight gain in postmenopausal women. Here we review the properties and clinical application of current gonadotropin preparations and their analogs, as well as the development of novel orally active, small-molecule nonpeptide analogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross C Anderson
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.,Department of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Claire L Newton
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.,Department of Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Richard A Anderson
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Robert P Millar
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.,Department of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.,Department of Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.,Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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Ayoub MA, Yvinec R, Jégot G, Dias JA, Poli SM, Poupon A, Crépieux P, Reiter E. Profiling of FSHR negative allosteric modulators on LH/CGR reveals biased antagonism with implications in steroidogenesis. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2016; 436:10-22. [PMID: 27424143 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2016.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2016] [Revised: 07/09/2016] [Accepted: 07/10/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Biased signaling has recently emerged as an interesting means to modulate the function of many G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Previous studies reported two negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) of follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR), ADX68692 and ADX68693, with differential effects on FSHR-mediated steroidogenesis and ovulation. In this study, we attempted to pharmacologically profile these NAMs on the closely related luteinizing hormone/chorionic gonadotropin hormone receptor (LH/CGR) with regards to its canonical Gs/cAMP pathway as well as to β-arrestin recruitment in HEK293 cells. The NAMs' effects on cAMP, progesterone and testosterone production were also assessed in murine Leydig tumor cell line (mLTC-1) as well as rat primary Leydig cells. We found that both NAMs strongly antagonized LH/CGR signaling in the different cell models used with ADX68693 being more potent than ADX68692 to inhibit hCG-induced cAMP production in HEK293, mLTC-1 and rat primary Leydig cells as well as β-arrestin 2 recruitment in HEK293 cells. Interestingly, differential antagonism of the two NAMs on hCG-promoted steroidogenesis in mLTC-1 and rat primary Leydig cells was observed. Indeed, a significant inhibition of testosterone production by the two NAMs was observed in both cell types, whereas progesterone production was only inhibited by ADX68693 in rat primary Leydig cells. In addition, while ADX68693 totally abolished testosterone production, ADX68692 had only a partial effect in both mLTC-1 and rat primary Leydig cells. These observations suggest biased effects of the two NAMs on LH/CGR-dependent pathways controlling steroidogenesis. Interestingly, the pharmacological profiles of the two NAMs with respect to steroidogenesis were found to differ from that previously shown on FSHR. This illustrates the complexity of signaling pathways controlling FSHR- and LH/CGR-mediated steroidogenesis, suggesting differential implication of cAMP and β-arrestins mediated by FSHR and LH/CGR. Together, our data demonstrate that ADX68692 and ADX68693 are biased NAMs at the LH/CGR in addition to the FSHR. These pharmacological characteristics are important to consider for potential contraceptive and therapeutic applications based on such compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Akli Ayoub
- PRC, INRA, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France; LE STUDIUM(®) Loire Valley Institute for Advanced Studies, 45000, Orléans, France.
| | - Romain Yvinec
- PRC, INRA, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Gwenhaël Jégot
- PRC, INRA, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - James A Dias
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, NY, USA
| | | | - Anne Poupon
- PRC, INRA, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Pascale Crépieux
- PRC, INRA, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Eric Reiter
- PRC, INRA, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France
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Synthetic Development of New 3-(4-Arylmethylamino)butyl-5-arylidene-rhodanines under Microwave Irradiation and Their Effects on Tumor Cell Lines and against Protein Kinases. Molecules 2015; 20:12412-35. [PMID: 26184130 PMCID: PMC6332318 DOI: 10.3390/molecules200712412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2015] [Revised: 06/17/2015] [Accepted: 06/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
A new route to 3-(4-arylmethylamino)butyl-5-arylidene-2-thioxo-1,3-thiazolidine-4-one 9 was developed in six steps from commercial 1,4-diaminobutane 1 as starting material. The key step of this multi-step synthesis involved a solution phase “one-pot two-steps” approach assisted by microwave dielectric from N-(arylmethyl)butane-1,4-diamine hydrochloride 6a–f (as source of the first point diversity) and commercial bis-(carboxymethyl)-trithiocarbonate reagent 7 for construction of the rhodanine platform. This platform was immediately functionalized by Knoevenagel condensation under microwave irradiation with a series of aromatic aldehydes 3 as second point of diversity. These new compounds were prepared in moderate to good yields and the fourteen synthetic products 9a–n have been obtained with a Z-geometry about their exocyclic double bond. These new 5-arylidene rhodanines derivatives 9a–n were tested for their kinase inhibitory potencies against four protein kinases: Human cyclin-dependent kinase 5-p25, HsCDK5-p25; porcine Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3, GSK-3α/β; porcine Casein Kinase 1, SsCK1 and human HsHaspin. They have also been evaluated for their in vitro inhibition of cell proliferation (HuH7 D12, Caco 2, MDA-MB 231, HCT 116, PC3, NCI-H727, HaCat and fibroblasts). Among of all these compounds, 9j presented selective micromolar inhibition activity on SsCK1 and 9i exhibited antitumor activities in the HuH7 D12, MDA-MBD231 cell lines.
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Nataraja SG, Yu HN, Palmer SS. Discovery and Development of Small Molecule Allosteric Modulators of Glycoprotein Hormone Receptors. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2015; 6:142. [PMID: 26441832 PMCID: PMC4568768 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2015.00142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2015] [Accepted: 08/31/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Glycoprotein hormones, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) are heterodimeric proteins with a common α-subunit and hormone-specific β-subunit. These hormones are dominant regulators of reproduction and metabolic processes. Receptors for the glycoprotein hormones belong to the family of G protein-coupled receptors. FSH receptor (FSHR) and LH receptor are primarily expressed in somatic cells in ovary and testis to promote egg and sperm production in women and men, respectively. TSH receptor is expressed in thyroid cells and regulates the secretion of T3 and T4. Glycoprotein hormones bind to the large extracellular domain of the receptor and cause a conformational change in the receptor that leads to activation of more than one intracellular signaling pathway. Several small molecules have been described to activate/inhibit glycoprotein hormone receptors through allosteric sites of the receptor. Small molecule allosteric modulators have the potential to be administered orally to patients, thus improving the convenience of treatment. It has been a challenge to develop a small molecule allosteric agonist for glycoprotein hormones that can mimic the agonistic effects of the large natural ligand to activate similar signaling pathways. However, in the past few years, there have been several promising reports describing distinct chemical series with improved potency in preclinical models. In parallel, proposal of new structural model for FSHR and in silico docking studies of small molecule ligands to glycoprotein hormone receptors provide a giant leap on the understanding of the mechanism of action of the natural ligands and new chemical entities on the receptors. This review will focus on the current status of small molecule allosteric modulators of glycoprotein hormone receptors, their effects on common signaling pathways in cells, their utility for clinical application as demonstrated in preclinical models, and use of these molecules as novel tools to dissect the molecular signaling pathways of these receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selvaraj G. Nataraja
- TocopheRx Inc., Burlington, MA, USA
- *Correspondence: Selvaraj G. Nataraja, TocopheRx Inc., 15 New England Executive Park, Suite 1087, Burlington, MA 01803, USA,
| | - Henry N. Yu
- TocopheRx Inc., Burlington, MA, USA
- EMD Serono Research and Development Institute Inc., Billerica, MA, USA
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Mofford DM, Reddy GR, Miller SC. Aminoluciferins extend firefly luciferase bioluminescence into the near-infrared and can be preferred substrates over D-luciferin. J Am Chem Soc 2014; 136:13277-82. [PMID: 25208457 PMCID: PMC4183640 DOI: 10.1021/ja505795s] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Firefly
luciferase adenylates and oxidizes d-luciferin
to chemically generate visible light and is widely used for biological
assays and imaging. Here we show that both luciferase and luciferin
can be reengineered to extend the scope of this light-emitting reaction. d-Luciferin can be replaced by synthetic luciferin analogues
that increase near-infrared photon flux >10-fold over that of d-luciferin in live luciferase-expressing cells. Firefly luciferase
can be mutated to accept and utilize rigid aminoluciferins with
high activity in both live and lysed cells yet exhibit 10 000-fold
selectivity over the natural luciferase substrate. These new luciferin
analogues thus pave the way to an extended family of bioluminescent
reporters.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M Mofford
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School , 364 Plantation Street, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, United States
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Coulibaly WK, Paquin L, Bénie A, Békro YA, Le Guével R, Ravache M, Corlu A, Bazureau JP. Prospective study directed to the synthesis of unsymmetrical linked bis-5-arylidene rhodanine derivatives via “one-pot two steps” reactions under microwave irradiation with their antitumor activity. Med Chem Res 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s00044-014-1186-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Ulloa-Aguirre A, Reiter E, Bousfield G, Dias JA, Huhtaniemi I. Constitutive activity in gonadotropin receptors. ADVANCES IN PHARMACOLOGY (SAN DIEGO, CALIF.) 2014; 70:37-80. [PMID: 24931192 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-417197-8.00002-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Constitutively active mutants (CAMs) of gonadotropin receptors are, in general, rare conditions. Luteinizing hormone-choriogonadotropin receptor (LHCGR) CAMs provoke the dramatic phenotype of familial gonadotropin-independent isosexual male-limited precocious puberty, whereas in females, there is not yet any identified phenotype. Only one isolated follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) CAM (Asp567Gly) has so far been detected in a single male patient, besides other FSHR weak CAMs linked to pregnancy-associated ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome or to impaired desensitization and internalization. Several animal models have been developed for studying enhanced gonadotropin action; in addition to unraveling valuable new information about the possible phenotypes of isolated FSHR and LHCGR CAMs in women, the information obtained from these mouse models has served multiple translational goals, including the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic targets as well as the prediction of phenotypes for mutations not yet identified in humans. Mutagenesis and computational studies have shed important information on the physiopathogenic mechanisms leading to constitutive activity of gonadotropin receptors; a common feature in these receptor CAMs is the release of stabilizing interhelical interactions between transmembrane domains (TMDs) 3 and 6 leading to an increase, with respect to the wild-type receptor, in the solvent accessibility at the cytosolic extension of TMDs 3, 5, and 6, which involves the highly conserved Glu/Asp-Arg-Tyr/Trp sequence. In this chapter, we summarize the structural features, functional consequences, and mechanisms that lead to constitutive activation of gonadotropin receptor CAMs and provide information on pharmacological approaches that might potentially modulate gonadotropin receptor CAM function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfredo Ulloa-Aguirre
- Studium Consortium for Research and Training in Reproductive Sciences (sCORTS), Tours, France; Research Support Network, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición "Salvador Zubirán" and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México D.F., Mexico.
| | - Eric Reiter
- Studium Consortium for Research and Training in Reproductive Sciences (sCORTS), Tours, France; BIOS Group, INRA, UMR85, Unité Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Nouzilly, France; CNRS, UMR7247, Nouzilly, France; Université François Rabelais, Tours, France
| | - George Bousfield
- Studium Consortium for Research and Training in Reproductive Sciences (sCORTS), Tours, France; Department of Biological Sciences, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas, USA
| | - James A Dias
- Studium Consortium for Research and Training in Reproductive Sciences (sCORTS), Tours, France; Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Ilpo Huhtaniemi
- Studium Consortium for Research and Training in Reproductive Sciences (sCORTS), Tours, France; Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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Huo J, LÜ M, Wang Z, Li Y. Synthesis of 2(5H)-Furanone Derivatives with Bis-1,2,3-triazole Structure. CHINESE J CHEM 2012. [DOI: 10.1002/cjoc.201200638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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12
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Shonberg J, Scammells PJ, Capuano B. Design strategies for bivalent ligands targeting GPCRs. ChemMedChem 2011; 6:963-74. [PMID: 21520422 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201100101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2011] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Specifically designed bivalent ligands targeting G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) dimeric structures have become increasingly popular in recent literature. The advantages of the bivalent approach are numerous, including enhanced potency and receptor subtype specificity. However, the use of bivalent ligands as potential pharmacotherapeutics is limited by problematic molecular properties, such as high molecular weight and lipophilicity. This minireview focuses on the design of bivalent ligands recently described in the literature; discussing the choice of lead pharmacophore, the position and nature of the attachment point for linking the two pharmacophore units, and the length and composition of the spacer group. Furthermore, this minireview distils the molecular descriptors of the bivalent ligands that exhibit in vivo activity, as well as highlights their ability to access the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Shonberg
- Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Action, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 381 Royal Pde, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
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Bonger KM, Hoogendoorn S, van Koppen CJ, Timmers CM, van der Marel GA, Overkleeft HS. Development of Selective LH Receptor Agonists by Heterodimerization with a FSH Receptor Antagonist. ACS Med Chem Lett 2011; 2:85-9. [PMID: 24900256 DOI: 10.1021/ml100229v] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2010] [Accepted: 11/01/2010] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The structural resemblance of the luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) impedes selective agonistic targeting of one of those by low molecular weight (LMW) ligands. In the present study, we describe a series of dimeric ligands consisting of a LMW agonist with dual activity on the FSHR and the LHR linked to a selective FSHR antagonist. Biological evaluation shows these compounds to be potent and selective LHR agonists, since no agonistic activity on the FSHR was observed. Equimolar mixing of the monomeric counterparts did not yield the pharmacological profile observed for the heterodimeric ligands, and FSHR agonism of the monomeric LHR agonist was still observed. The here-described results show that ligands with unique pharmacological profiles can be obtained by dimerizing monomeric molecules with distinct apposite properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly M. Bonger
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9502, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Sascha Hoogendoorn
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9502, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Herman S. Overkleeft
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9502, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
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Kamal M, Jockers R. Biological Significance of GPCR Heteromerization in the Neuro-Endocrine System. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2011; 2:2. [PMID: 22649357 PMCID: PMC3355952 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2011.00002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2010] [Accepted: 01/13/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Clustering of proteins in higher order complexes is a common theme in biology and profoundly influences protein function. The idea that seven-transmembrane spanning G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) might form dimers or higher order oligomeric complexes has been formulated more than 20 years ago. Since then, this phenomenon has been investigated with many different biochemical and biophysical techniques. The more recent notion of GPCR heteromerization describes the specific association of two different GPCRs. GPCR heteromerization may be of primary importance in neuroendocrinology, as this may explain at least some of the functional crosstalks described between different hormonal systems. Importantly, many GPCR heteromers have distinct functional properties compared to their corresponding homomers. Heteromer-specific pharmacological profiles might be exploited for drug design and open new therapeutic options. GPCR heteromerization has been first studied in heterologous expression systems. Today, increasing evidence for the existence of GPCR heteromers in endogenous systems is emerging providing crucial evidence for the physiological function of GPCR heteromerization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maud Kamal
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Cancer, INSERM U1016, Institut CochinParis, France
- CNRS UMR 8104Paris, France
- University Paris DescartesParis, France
| | - Ralf Jockers
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Cancer, INSERM U1016, Institut CochinParis, France
- CNRS UMR 8104Paris, France
- University Paris DescartesParis, France
- *Correspondence: Ralf Jockers, Institut Cochin, 22 rue Méchain, 75014 Paris, France. e-mail:
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