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Ericson MD, Freeman KT, LaVoi TM, Donow HM, Santos RG, Giulianotti MA, Pinilla C, Houghten RA, Haskell-Luevano C. The Parallel Structure-Activity Relationship Screening of Three Compounds Identifies the Common Agonist Pharmacophore of Pyrrolidine Bis-Cyclic Guanidine Melanocortin-3 Receptor (MC3R) Small-Molecule Ligands. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10145. [PMID: 37373293 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241210145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The melanocortin receptors are involved in numerous physiological pathways, including appetite, skin and hair pigmentation, and steroidogenesis. In particular, the melanocortin-3 receptor (MC3R) is involved in fat storage, food intake, and energy homeostasis. Small-molecule ligands developed for the MC3R may serve as therapeutic lead compounds for treating disease states of energy disequilibrium. Herein, three previously reported pyrrolidine bis-cyclic guanidine compounds with five sites for molecular diversity (R1-R5) were subjected to parallel structure-activity relationship studies to identify the common pharmacophore of this scaffold series required for full agonism at the MC3R. The R2, R3, and R5 positions were required for full MC3R efficacy, while truncation of either the R1 or R4 positions in all three compounds resulted in full MC3R agonists. Two additional fragments, featuring molecular weights below 300 Da, were also identified that possessed full agonist efficacy and micromolar potencies at the mMC5R. These SAR experiments may be useful in generating new small-molecule ligands and chemical probes for the melanocortin receptors to help elucidate their roles in vivo and as therapeutic lead compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D Ericson
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry & Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Katie T Freeman
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry & Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Travis M LaVoi
- Center for Translational Science, Florida International University, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987, USA
| | - Haley M Donow
- Center for Translational Science, Florida International University, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987, USA
| | - Radleigh G Santos
- Department of Mathematics, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA
| | - Marc A Giulianotti
- Center for Translational Science, Florida International University, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987, USA
| | - Clemencia Pinilla
- Center for Translational Science, Florida International University, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987, USA
| | - Richard A Houghten
- Center for Translational Science, Florida International University, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987, USA
| | - Carrie Haskell-Luevano
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry & Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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Yuan XC, Tao YX. Ligands for Melanocortin Receptors: Beyond Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones and Adrenocorticotropin. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12101407. [PMID: 36291616 PMCID: PMC9599618 DOI: 10.3390/biom12101407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery of melanocortins in 1916 has resulted in more than 100 years of research focused on these peptides. Extensive studies have elucidated well-established functions of melanocortins mediated by cell surface receptors, including MSHR (melanocyte-stimulating hormone receptor) and ACTHR (adrenocorticotropin receptor). Subsequently, three additional melanocortin receptors (MCRs) were identified. Among these five MCRs, MC3R and MC4R are expressed primarily in the central nervous system, and are therefore referred to as the neural MCRs. Since the central melanocortin system plays important roles in regulating energy homeostasis, targeting neural MCRs is emerging as a therapeutic approach for treating metabolic conditions such as obesity and cachexia. Early efforts modifying endogenous ligands resulted in the development of many potent and selective ligands. This review focuses on the ligands for neural MCRs, including classical ligands (MSH and agouti-related peptide), nonclassical ligands (lipocalin 2, β-defensin, small molecules, and pharmacoperones), and clinically approved ligands (ACTH, setmelanotide, bremelanotide, and several repurposed drugs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Chen Yuan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230061, China
| | - Ya-Xiong Tao
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
- Correspondence:
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Ericson MD, Doering SR, Larson CM, Freeman KT, LaVoi TM, Donow HM, Santos RG, Cho RH, Koerperich ZM, Giulianotti MA, Pinilla C, Houghten RA, Haskell-Luevano C. Functional Mixture-Based Positional Scan Identifies a Library of Antagonist Tetrapeptide Sequences (LAtTeS) with Nanomolar Potency for the Melanocortin-4 Receptor and Equipotent with the Endogenous AGRP(86-132) Antagonist. J Med Chem 2021; 64:14860-14875. [PMID: 34592820 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) plays an important role in appetite. Agonist ligands that stimulate the MC4R decrease appetite, while antagonist compounds increase food consumption. Herein, a functional mixture-based positional scan identified novel MC4R antagonist sequences. Mixtures comprising a library of 12,960,000 tetrapeptides were screened in the presence and absence of the NDP-MSH agonist. These results led to the synthesis of 48 individual tetrapeptides, of which 40 were screened for functional activity at the melanocortin receptors. Thirteen compounds were found to possess nanomolar antagonist potency at the MC4R, with the general tetrapeptide sequence Ac-Aromatic-Basic-Aromatic-Basic-NH2. The most notable results include the identification of tetrapeptide 48 [COR1-25, Ac-DPhe(pI)-Arg-Nal(2')-Arg-NH2], an equipotent MC4R antagonist to agouti-related protein [AGRP(86-132)], more potent than miniAGRP(87-120), and possessing 15-fold selectivity for the MC4R versus the MC3R. These tetrapeptides may serve as leads for novel appetite-inducing therapies to treat states of negative energy balance, such as cachexia and anorexia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D Ericson
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translation Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Skye R Doering
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translation Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Courtney M Larson
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translation Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Katie T Freeman
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translation Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Travis M LaVoi
- Florida International University, Port St. Lucie, Florida 34987, United States
| | - Haley M Donow
- Florida International University, Port St. Lucie, Florida 34987, United States
| | - Radleigh G Santos
- Nova Southeastern University, 3301 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33314, United States
| | - Rachel H Cho
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translation Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Zoe M Koerperich
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translation Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Marc A Giulianotti
- Florida International University, Port St. Lucie, Florida 34987, United States
| | - Clemencia Pinilla
- Florida International University, Port St. Lucie, Florida 34987, United States
| | - Richard A Houghten
- Florida International University, Port St. Lucie, Florida 34987, United States
| | - Carrie Haskell-Luevano
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translation Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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