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Šachlevičiūtė U, Gonzalez G, Kvasnicová M, Štěpánková Š, Kleizienė N, Bieliauskas A, Zatloukal M, Strnad M, Sløk FA, Kvasnica M, Šačkus A, Žukauskaitė A. Synthesis and neuroprotective activity of 3-aryl-3-azetidinyl acetic acid methyl ester derivatives. Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 2023; 356:e2300378. [PMID: 37797174 DOI: 10.1002/ardp.202300378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
A library of 3-aryl-3-azetidinyl acetic acid methyl ester derivatives was prepared from N-Boc-3-azetidinone employing the Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction, rhodium(I)-catalyzed conjugate addition of arylboronic acids, and subsequent elaborations to obtain N-unprotected hydrochlorides, N-alkylated and N-acylated azetidine derivatives. The compounds were evaluated for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory activity, revealing several derivatives to possess AChE inhibition comparable to that of the AChE inhibitor rivastigmine. The binding mode of the AChE inhibitor donepezil and selected active compounds 26 and 27 within the active site of AChE was studied using molecular docking. Furthermore, the neuroprotective activity of the prepared compounds was evaluated in models associated with Parkinson's disease (salsolinol-induced) and aspects of Alzheimer's disease (glutamate-induced oxidative damage). Compound 28 showed the highest neuroprotective effect in both salsolinol- and glutamate-induced neurodegeneration models, and its protective effect in the glutamate model was revealed to be driven by a reduction in oxidative stress and caspase-3/7 activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urtė Šachlevičiūtė
- Institute of Synthetic Chemistry, Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Gabriel Gonzalez
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Olomouc and Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Marie Kvasnicová
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Šárka Štěpánková
- Department of Biological and Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Pardubice, Pardubice, Czech Republic
| | - Neringa Kleizienė
- Institute of Synthetic Chemistry, Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Aurimas Bieliauskas
- Institute of Synthetic Chemistry, Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Marek Zatloukal
- Department of Chemical Biology, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslav Strnad
- Laboratory of Growth Regulators, Institute of Experimental Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences & Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | | | - Miroslav Kvasnica
- Laboratory of Growth Regulators, Institute of Experimental Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences & Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Algirdas Šačkus
- Institute of Synthetic Chemistry, Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Asta Žukauskaitė
- Department of Chemical Biology, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
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Callis TB, Garrett TR, Montgomery AP, Danon JJ, Kassiou M. Recent Scaffold Hopping Applications in Central Nervous System Drug Discovery. J Med Chem 2022; 65:13483-13504. [PMID: 36206553 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The concept of bioisosterism and the implementation of bioisosteric replacement is fundamental to medicinal chemistry. The exploration of bioisosteres is often used to probe key structural features of candidate pharmacophores and enhance pharmacokinetic properties. As the understanding of bioisosterism has evolved, capabilities to undertake more ambitious bioisosteric replacements have emerged. Scaffold hopping is a broadly used term in the literature referring to a variety of different bioisosteric replacement strategies, ranging from simple heterocyclic replacements to topological structural overhauls. In this work, we have highlighted recent applications of scaffold hopping in the central nervous system drug discovery space. While we have highlighted the benefits of using scaffold hopping approaches in central nervous system drug discovery, these are also widely applicable to other medicinal chemistry fields. We also recommend a shift toward the use of more refined and meaningful terminology within the realm of scaffold hopping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy B Callis
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Taylor R Garrett
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | | | - Jonathan J Danon
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Michael Kassiou
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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Gallagher CI, Ha DA, Harvey RJ, Vandenberg RJ. Positive Allosteric Modulators of Glycine Receptors and Their Potential Use in Pain Therapies. Pharmacol Rev 2022; 74:933-961. [PMID: 36779343 PMCID: PMC9553105 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.122.000583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Glycine receptors are ligand-gated ion channels that mediate synaptic inhibition throughout the mammalian spinal cord, brainstem, and higher brain regions. They have recently emerged as promising targets for novel pain therapies due to their ability to produce antinociception by inhibiting nociceptive signals within the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. This has greatly enhanced the interest in developing positive allosteric modulators of glycine receptors. Several pharmaceutical companies and research facilities have attempted to identify new therapeutic leads by conducting large-scale screens of compound libraries, screening new derivatives from natural sources, or synthesizing novel compounds that mimic endogenous compounds with antinociceptive activity. Advances in structural techniques have also led to the publication of multiple high-resolution structures of the receptor, highlighting novel allosteric binding sites and providing additional information for previously identified binding sites. This has greatly enhanced our understanding of the functional properties of glycine receptors and expanded the structure activity relationships of novel pharmacophores. Despite this, glycine receptors are yet to be used as drug targets due to the difficulties in obtaining potent, selective modulators with favorable pharmacokinetic profiles that are devoid of side effects. This review presents a summary of the structural basis for how current compounds cause positive allosteric modulation of glycine receptors and discusses their therapeutic potential as analgesics. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Chronic pain is a major cause of disability, and in Western societies, this will only increase as the population ages. Despite the high level of prevalence and enormous socioeconomic burden incurred, treatment of chronic pain remains limited as it is often refractory to current analgesics, such as opioids. The National Institute for Drug Abuse has set finding effective, safe, nonaddictive strategies to manage chronic pain as their top priority. Positive allosteric modulators of glycine receptors may provide a therapeutic option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casey I Gallagher
- Molecular Biomedicine, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia (C.I.G., D.A.H., R.J.V.) and Biomedical Science, School of Health and Behavioural Sciences and Sunshine Coast Health Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Australia (R.J.H.)
| | - Damien A Ha
- Molecular Biomedicine, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia (C.I.G., D.A.H., R.J.V.) and Biomedical Science, School of Health and Behavioural Sciences and Sunshine Coast Health Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Australia (R.J.H.)
| | - Robert J Harvey
- Molecular Biomedicine, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia (C.I.G., D.A.H., R.J.V.) and Biomedical Science, School of Health and Behavioural Sciences and Sunshine Coast Health Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Australia (R.J.H.)
| | - Robert J Vandenberg
- Molecular Biomedicine, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia (C.I.G., D.A.H., R.J.V.) and Biomedical Science, School of Health and Behavioural Sciences and Sunshine Coast Health Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Australia (R.J.H.)
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Chatzigoulas A, Cournia Z. Rational design of allosteric modulators: Challenges and successes. WIRES COMPUTATIONAL MOLECULAR SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/wcms.1529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexios Chatzigoulas
- Biomedical Research Foundation Academy of Athens Athens Greece
- Department of Informatics and Telecommunications National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Athens Greece
| | - Zoe Cournia
- Biomedical Research Foundation Academy of Athens Athens Greece
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Zeilhofer HU, Werynska K, Gingras J, Yévenes GE. Glycine Receptors in Spinal Nociceptive Control-An Update. Biomolecules 2021; 11:846. [PMID: 34204137 PMCID: PMC8228028 DOI: 10.3390/biom11060846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Diminished inhibitory control of spinal nociception is one of the major culprits of chronic pain states. Restoring proper synaptic inhibition is a well-established rational therapeutic approach explored by several pharmaceutical companies. A particular challenge arises from the need for site-specific intervention to avoid deleterious side effects such as sedation, addiction, or impaired motor control, which would arise from wide-range facilitation of inhibition. Specific targeting of glycinergic inhibition, which dominates in the spinal cord and parts of the hindbrain, may help reduce these side effects. Selective targeting of the α3 subtype of glycine receptors (GlyRs), which is highly enriched in the superficial layers of the spinal dorsal horn, a key site of nociceptive processing, may help to further narrow down pharmacological intervention on the nociceptive system and increase tolerability. This review provides an update on the physiological properties and functions of α3 subtype GlyRs and on the present state of related drug discovery programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanns Ulrich Zeilhofer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland;
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Vladimir Prelog Weg, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland
- Drug Discovery Network Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Karolina Werynska
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland;
| | - Jacinthe Gingras
- Homology Medicines Inc., 1 Patriots Park, Bedford, MA 01730, USA;
| | - Gonzalo E. Yévenes
- Department of Physiology, University of Concepción, Concepción 4070386, Chile;
- Millennium Nucleus for the Study of Pain (MiNuSPain), Santiago 8320000, Chile
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Abstract
The inhibitory glycine receptor is a member of the Cys-loop superfamily of ligand-gated ion channels. It is the principal mediator of rapid synaptic inhibition in the spinal cord and brainstem and plays an important role in the modulation of higher brain functions including vision, hearing, and pain signaling. Glycine receptor function is controlled by only a few agonists, while the number of antagonists and positive or biphasic modulators is steadily increasing. These modulators are important for the study of receptor activation and regulation and have found clinical interest as potential analgesics and anticonvulsants. High-resolution structures of the receptor have become available recently, adding to our understanding of structure-function relationships and revealing agonistic, inhibitory, and modulatory sites on the receptor protein. This Review presents an overview of compounds that activate, inhibit, or modulate glycine receptor function in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike Breitinger
- Department of Biochemistry, German University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
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Lautié E, Russo O, Ducrot P, Boutin JA. Unraveling Plant Natural Chemical Diversity for Drug Discovery Purposes. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:397. [PMID: 32317969 PMCID: PMC7154113 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.00397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The screening and testing of extracts against a variety of pharmacological targets in order to benefit from the immense natural chemical diversity is a concern in many laboratories worldwide. And several successes have been recorded in finding new actives in natural products, some of which have become new drugs or new sources of inspiration for drugs. But in view of the vast amount of research on the subject, it is surprising that not more drug candidates were found. In our view, it is fundamental to reflect upon the approaches of such drug discovery programs and the technical processes that are used, along with their inherent difficulties and biases. Based on an extensive survey of recent publications, we discuss the origin and the variety of natural chemical diversity as well as the strategies to having the potential to embrace this diversity. It seemed to us that some of the difficulties of the area could be related with the technical approaches that are used, so the present review begins with synthetizing some of the more used discovery strategies, exemplifying some key points, in order to address some of their limitations. It appears that one of the challenges of natural product-based drug discovery programs should be an easier access to renewable sources of plant-derived products. Maximizing the use of the data together with the exploration of chemical diversity while working on reasonable supply of natural product-based entities could be a way to answer this challenge. We suggested alternative ways to access and explore part of this chemical diversity with in vitro cultures. We also reinforced how important it was organizing and making available this worldwide knowledge in an "inventory" of natural products and their sources. And finally, we focused on strategies based on synthetic biology and syntheses that allow reaching industrial scale supply. Approaches based on the opportunities lying in untapped natural plant chemical diversity are also considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuelle Lautié
- Centro de Valorização de Compostos Bioativos da Amazônia (CVACBA)-Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Belém, Brazil
| | - Olivier Russo
- Institut de Recherches Internationales SERVIER, Suresnes, France
| | - Pierre Ducrot
- Molecular Modelling Department, 'PEX Biotechnologie, Chimie & Biologie, Institut de Recherches SERVIER, Croissy-sur-Seine, France
| | - Jean A Boutin
- Institut de Recherches Internationales SERVIER, Suresnes, France
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Rafiee Pour Z, Nazifi SMR, Afshari Safavi A, Nazifi ZS, Massah AR. Solvent-Free Synthesis, ADME Prediction, and Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity of Novel Sulfonamide Derivatives. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY 2019. [DOI: 10.1134/s1070428019060162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Zeilhofer HU, Acuña MA, Gingras J, Yévenes GE. Glycine receptors and glycine transporters: targets for novel analgesics? Cell Mol Life Sci 2018; 75:447-465. [PMID: 28791431 PMCID: PMC11105467 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-017-2622-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Revised: 07/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Glycinergic neurotransmission has long been known for its role in spinal motor control. During the last two decades, additional functions have become increasingly recognized-among them is a critical contribution to spinal pain processing. Studies in rodent pain models provide proof-of-concept evidence that enhancing inhibitory glycinergic neurotransmission reduces chronic pain symptoms. Apparent strategies for pharmacological intervention include positive allosteric modulators of glycine receptors and modulators or inhibitors of the glial and neuronal glycine transporters GlyT1 and GlyT2. These prospects have led to drug discovery efforts in academia and in industry aiming at compounds that target glycinergic neurotransmission with high specificity. Available data show promising analgesic efficacy. Less is currently known about potential unwanted effects but the presence of glycinergic innervation in CNS areas outside the nociceptive system prompts for a careful evaluation not only of motor function, but also of potential respiratory impairment and addictive properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanns Ulrich Zeilhofer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5/10, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Mario A Acuña
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Gonzalo E Yévenes
- Department of Physiology, University of Concepción, Concepción, Chile
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Sparling BA, DiMauro EF. Progress in the discovery of small molecule modulators of the Cys-loop superfamily receptors. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2017; 27:3207-3218. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2017.04.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2017] [Revised: 04/20/2017] [Accepted: 04/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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