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Kawasaki T, Tosaki T, Miki S, Takada T, Murakami M, Ishida N. Dehydrogenative Coupling of Alkylamines with Primary Alcohols Forming α-Amino Ketones. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:17566-17572. [PMID: 38885646 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c02761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling reactions between C-H bonds offer straightforward and atom-economical methods connecting readily available materials while liberating gaseous hydrogen as the sole byproduct. Despite the growing interest in such transformations, their realization still poses a significant challenge. Here we report a photoinduced dehydrogenative coupling reaction of alkylamines with primary alcohols. C-H bonds adjacent to nitrogen and oxygen are site-selectively cleaved, and a C-C bond is created between the carbon atoms in a cross-selective manner to produce α-amino ketones. Diverse polar functionalities such as esters, amides, and carboxylic acids survived, demonstrating the broad applicability of the present method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tairin Kawasaki
- Department of Synthetic Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Kyoto University, Katsura, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Tosaki
- Department of Synthetic Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Kyoto University, Katsura, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan
| | - Shousuke Miki
- Department of Synthetic Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Kyoto University, Katsura, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Takada
- Department of Synthetic Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Kyoto University, Katsura, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan
| | - Masahiro Murakami
- Department of Synthetic Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Kyoto University, Katsura, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan
| | - Naoki Ishida
- Department of Synthetic Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Kyoto University, Katsura, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan
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2
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Angoa-Perez M, Kuhn DM. The pharmacology and neurotoxicology of synthetic cathinones. ADVANCES IN PHARMACOLOGY (SAN DIEGO, CALIF.) 2023; 99:61-82. [PMID: 38467489 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apha.2023.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
The synthetic cathinones are man-made compounds derived from the naturally occurring drug cathinone, which is found in the khat plant. The drugs in this pharmacological class that will be the focus of this chapter include mephedrone, MDPV, methcathinone and methylone. These drugs are colloquially known as "bath salts". This misnomer suggests that these drugs are used for health improvement or that they have legitimate medical uses. The synthetic cathinones are dangerous drugs with powerful pharmacological effects that include high abuse potential, hyperthermia and hyperlocomotion. These drugs also share many of the pharmacological effects of the amphetamine class of drugs including methamphetamine, amphetamine and MDMA and therefore have high potential to cause damage to the central nervous system. The synthetic cathinones are frequently taken in combination with other psychoactive drugs such as alcohol, marijuana and the amphetamine-like stimulants, creating a situation where heightened pharmacological and neurotoxicological effects are likely to occur. Despite the structural features shared by the synthetic cathinones and amphetamine-like stimulants, including their actions at monoamine transporters and receptors, the effects of the synthetic cathinones do not always match those of the amphetamines. In particular, the synthetic cathinones are far less neurotoxic than their amphetamine counterparts, they produce a weaker hyperthermia, and they cause less glial activation. This chapter will briefly review the pharmacology and neurotoxicology of selected synthetic cathinones with the aim of delineating key areas of agreement and disagreement in the literature particularly as it relates to neurotoxicological outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Angoa-Perez
- Research and Development Service, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, MI, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Donald M Kuhn
- Research and Development Service, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, MI, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States.
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3
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Baird TR, Karin KN, Marsh SA, Carroll FI, Medina-Contreras JML, Negus SS, Eltit JM. Rate of onset of dopamine transporter inhibitors assessed with intracranial self-stimulation and in vivo dopamine photometry in rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2023; 240:969-981. [PMID: 36802016 PMCID: PMC10466267 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-023-06340-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
Drug self-administration and intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) are two preclinical behavioral procedures used to predict abuse potential of drugs, and abuse-related drug effects in both procedures are thought to depend on increased mesolimbic dopamine (DA) signaling. Drug self-administration and ICSS yield concordant metrics of abuse potential across a diverse range of drug mechanisms of action. The "rate of onset," defined as the velocity with which a drug produces its effect once administered, has also been implicated as a determinant of abuse-related drug effects in self-administration procedures, but this variable has not been systematically examined in ICSS. Accordingly, this study compared ICSS effects produced in rats by three DA transporter inhibitors that have different rates of onset (fastest to slowest: cocaine, WIN-35428, RTI-31) and that produced progressively weaker metrics of abuse potential in a drug self-administration procedure in rhesus monkeys. Additionally, in vivo photometry using the fluorescent DA sensor dLight1.1 targeted to the nucleus accumbens (NAc) was used to assess the time course of extracellular DA levels as a neurochemical correlate of behavioral effects. All three compounds produced ICSS facilitation and increased DA levels assessed by dLight. In both procedures, the rank order of onset rate was cocaine > WIN-35428 > RTI-31; however, in contrast to monkey drug self-administration results, maximum effects did not differ across compounds. These results provide additional evidence that drug-induced increases in DA drive ICSS facilitation in rats and illustrate the utility of both ICSS and photometry to evaluate the time course and magnitude of abuse-related drug effects in rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyson R Baird
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
- Integrative Life Sciences Doctoral Program, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23284, USA
| | - Kimberly N Karin
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Samuel A Marsh
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - F Ivy Carroll
- Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, 27709, USA
| | - J M L Medina-Contreras
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1101 E. Marshall Street, 3-038H, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - S Stevens Negus
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Jose M Eltit
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1101 E. Marshall Street, 3-038H, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA.
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Zhou J, Deng W, Chen C, Kang J, Yang X, Dou Z, Wu J, Li Q, Jiang M, Liang M, Han Y. Methcathinone Increases Visually-evoked Neuronal Activity and Enhances Sensory Processing Efficiency in Mice. Neurosci Bull 2023; 39:602-616. [PMID: 36449230 PMCID: PMC10073404 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-022-00965-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Methcathinone (MCAT) belongs to the designer drugs called synthetic cathinones, which are abused worldwide for recreational purposes. It has strong stimulant effects, including enhanced euphoria, sensation, alertness, and empathy. However, little is known about how MCAT modulates neuronal activity in vivo. Here, we evaluated the effect of MCAT on neuronal activity with a series of functional approaches. C-Fos immunostaining showed that MCAT increased the number of activated neurons by 6-fold, especially in sensory and motor cortices, striatum, and midbrain motor nuclei. In vivo single-unit recording and two-photon Ca2+ imaging revealed that a large proportion of neurons increased spiking activity upon MCAT administration. Notably, MCAT induced a strong de-correlation of population activity and increased trial-to-trial reliability, specifically during a natural movie stimulus. It improved the information-processing efficiency by enhancing the single-neuron coding capacity, suggesting a cortical network mechanism of the enhanced perception produced by psychoactive stimulants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Zhou
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine and Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Institute for Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Wen Deng
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine and Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Institute for Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Chen Chen
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine and Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Institute for Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Junya Kang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine and Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Institute for Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Xiaodan Yang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine and Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Institute for Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Zhaojuan Dou
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine and Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Institute for Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Jiancheng Wu
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Quancong Li
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Man Jiang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine and Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Man Liang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
- Key Laboratory of Forensic Toxicology, Ministry of Public Security, Beijing, 100192, China.
| | - Yunyun Han
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine and Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
- Institute for Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
- Key Laboratory of Forensic Toxicology, Ministry of Public Security, Beijing, 100192, China.
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Jaster AM, Elder H, Marsh SA, de la Fuente Revenga M, Negus SS, González-Maeso J. Effects of the 5-HT 2A receptor antagonist volinanserin on head-twitch response and intracranial self-stimulation depression induced by different structural classes of psychedelics in rodents. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2022; 239:1665-1677. [PMID: 35233648 PMCID: PMC10055857 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06092-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clinical studies suggest that psychedelics exert robust therapeutic benefits in a number of psychiatric conditions including substance use disorder. Preclinical studies focused on safety and efficacy of these compounds are necessary to determine the full range of psychedelics' effects. OBJECTIVES The present study explores the behavioral pharmacology of structurally distinct psychedelics in paradigms associated with serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) activation and behavioral disruption in two rodent models. Utilizing the selective 5-HT2AR antagonist volinanserin, we aimed to provide further pharmacological assessment of psychedelic effects in rodents. METHODS We compared volinanserin (0.0001-0.1 mg/kg) antagonism of the phenethylamine 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOI, 1.0 mg/kg) and the ergoline lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD, 0.32 mg/kg) in preclinical assays predictive of hallucinations (head-twitch response or HTR in mice) and behavioral disruption (intracranial self-stimulation or ICSS in rats). Volinanserin antagonism of the phenethylamine mescaline, the tryptamine psilocybin, and the k-opioid receptor agonist salvinorin A was also evaluated in the rat ICSS assay. RESULTS Volinanserin had similar potency, effectiveness, and time-course to attenuate DOI-induced HTR in mice and ICSS depression in rats. Volinanserin completely blocked LSD-induced HTR in mice, but not LSD-induced ICSS depression in rats. Volinanserin also reversed ICSS depression by mescaline, but it was only partially effective to reduce the effects of psilocybin, and it exacerbated ICSS depression by salvinorin A. CONCLUSION Although hallucination-related HTR behavior induced by phenethylamine, ergoline, and tryptamine psychedelics appears to be 5-HT2AR-mediated, the receptor(s) responsible for behavioral disruptive effects may differ among these three structural classes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alaina M Jaster
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA.,Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Harrison Elder
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Samuel A Marsh
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Mario de la Fuente Revenga
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA.,Virginia Institute of Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - S Stevens Negus
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA.
| | - Javier González-Maeso
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA.
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Almeida AS, Silva B, de Pinho PG, Remião F, Fernandes C. Synthetic Cathinones: Recent Developments, Enantioselectivity Studies and Enantioseparation Methods. Molecules 2022; 27:2057. [PMID: 35408456 PMCID: PMC9000803 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27072057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
New psychoactive substances represent a public health threat since they are not controlled by international conventions, are easily accessible online and are sold as a legal alternative to illicit drugs. Among them, synthetic cathinones are widely abused due to their stimulant and hallucinogenic effects. To circumvent the law, new derivatives are clandestinely synthesized and, therefore, synthetic cathinones keep emerging on the drug market, with their chemical and toxicological properties still unknown. In this review, a literature assessment about synthetic cathinones is presented focusing on the recent developments, which include more than 50 derivatives since 2014. A summary of their toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic properties are also presented. Furthermore, synthetic cathinones are chiral compounds, meaning that they can exist as two enantiomeric forms which may present different biological and toxicological activities. To analyze the enantiomers, the development of enantiomeric resolution methods for synthetic cathinones is crucial. Many methods have been reported over the years that include mostly chromatographic and electromigration techniques, with liquid chromatography using chiral stationary phases being the technique of choice. This review intended to present an overview of enantioselectivity studies and enantioseparation analysis regarding synthetic cathinones, highlighting the relevance of chirality and current trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Sofia Almeida
- Laboratório de Química Orgânica e Farmacêutica, Departamento de Ciências Químicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira nº 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (A.S.A.); (B.S.)
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira nº 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (P.G.d.P.); (F.R.)
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental (CIIMAR), Universidade do Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Bárbara Silva
- Laboratório de Química Orgânica e Farmacêutica, Departamento de Ciências Químicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira nº 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (A.S.A.); (B.S.)
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira nº 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (P.G.d.P.); (F.R.)
- Associate Laboratory i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Paula Guedes de Pinho
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira nº 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (P.G.d.P.); (F.R.)
- Associate Laboratory i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Fernando Remião
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira nº 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (P.G.d.P.); (F.R.)
- Associate Laboratory i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Carla Fernandes
- Laboratório de Química Orgânica e Farmacêutica, Departamento de Ciências Químicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira nº 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (A.S.A.); (B.S.)
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental (CIIMAR), Universidade do Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
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Steele TWE, Spires Z, Jones CB, Glennon RA, Dukat M, Eltit JM. Non-conserved residues dictate dopamine transporter selectivity for the potent synthetic cathinone and psychostimulant MDPV. Neuropharmacology 2021; 200:108820. [PMID: 34619165 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Clandestine chemists are currently exploiting the pyrrolidinophenone scaffold to develop new designer drugs that carry the risk of abuse and overdose. These drugs promote addiction through the rewarding effects of increased dopaminergic neurotransmission. 3,4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) and its analogs are illicit psychostimulants of this class that are ∼50-fold more potent than cocaine at inhibiting the human dopamine transporter (hDAT). In contrast, MDPV is a weak inhibitor at both the human serotonin transporter (hSERT) and, as it is shown here, the Drosophila melanogaster DAT (dDAT). We studied three conserved residues between hSERT and dDAT that are unique in hDAT (A117, F318, and P323 in dDAT), and one residue that is different in all three transporters (D121 in dDAT). hDAT residues were replaced in the dDAT sequence at these positions using site-directed mutagenesis and stable cell lines were generated expressing these mutant transporters. The potencies of MDPV and two of its analogs were determined using a Ca2+-mobilization assay. In this assay, voltage-gated Ca2+ channels are expressed to sense the membrane electrical depolarization evoked when dopamine is transported through DAT. Each individual mutant slightly improved MDPV's potency, but the combination of all four increased its potency ∼100-fold (2 log units) in inhibiting dDAT activity. Molecular modeling and docking studies were conducted to explore the possible mode of interaction between MDPV and DAT in silico. Two of the studied residues (F318 and P323) are at the entrance of the S1 binding site, whereas the other two (A117 and D121) face the aryl moiety of MDPV when bound to this site. Therefore, these four non-conserved residues can influence MDPV selectivity not only by stabilizing binding, but also by controlling access to its binding site at DAT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler W E Steele
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, USA
| | - Zachary Spires
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, USA
| | - Charles B Jones
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, USA
| | - Richard A Glennon
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, USA
| | - Małgorzata Dukat
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, USA
| | - Jose M Eltit
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, USA.
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Ruchala I, Battisti UM, Nguyen VT, Chen RYT, Glennon RA, Eltit JM. Functional characterization of N-octyl 4-methylamphetamine variants and related bivalent compounds at the dopamine and serotonin transporters using Ca 2+ channels as sensors. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2021; 419:115513. [PMID: 33785354 PMCID: PMC8148225 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2021.115513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The early characterization of ligands at the dopamine and serotonin transporters, DAT and SERT, respectively, is important for drug discovery, forensic sciences, and drug abuse research. 4-Methyl amphetamine (4-MA) is a good example of an abused drug whose overdose can be fatal. It is a potent substrate at DAT and SERT where its simplest secondary amine (N-methyl 4-MA) retains substrate activity at them. In contrast, N-n-butyl 4-MA is very weak, therefore it was categorized as inactive at these transporters. Here, N-octyl 4-MA and other related compounds were synthesized, and their activities were evaluated at DAT and SERT. To expedite this endeavor, cells expressing DAT or SERT were co-transfected with a voltage-gated Ca2+ channel and, the genetically-encoded Ca2+ sensor, GCaMP6s. Control compounds and the newly synthesized molecules were tested on these cells using an automated multi-well fluorescence plate reader; substrates and inhibitors were identified successfully at DAT and SERT. N-Octyl 4-MA and three bivalent compounds were inhibitors at these transporters. These findings were validated by measuring Ca2+-mobilization using quantitative fluorescence microscopy. The bivalent molecules were the most potent of the series and were further characterized in an uptake-inhibition assay. Compared to cocaine, they showed comparable potency inhibiting uptake at DAT and higher potency at SERT. These observations support a previous hypothesis that amphetamine-related (and, here, N-extended alkyl and) bivalent arylalkylamine molecules are active at monoamine transporters, showing potent activity as reuptake inhibitors, and implicate the involvement of a distant auxiliary binding feature to account for their actions at DAT and SERT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iwona Ruchala
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, United States of America
| | - Umberto M Battisti
- Deparment of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, United States of America
| | - Vy T Nguyen
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, United States of America
| | - Rita Yu-Tzu Chen
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, United States of America
| | - Richard A Glennon
- Deparment of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, United States of America
| | - Jose M Eltit
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, United States of America.
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9
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Baird TR, Davies RA, Glennon RA, Peace MR, Negus SS. A Strategy to Prioritize Emerging Drugs of Abuse for Analysis: Abuse Liability Testing Using Intracranial Self-Stimulation (ICSS) in Rats and Validation with α-Pyrrolidinohexanophenone (α-PHP). EMERGING TRENDS IN DRUGS, ADDICTIONS, AND HEALTH 2021; 1:100004. [PMID: 34296204 PMCID: PMC8294200 DOI: 10.1016/j.etdah.2021.100004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) threaten public health and safety while also straining the limited resources of forensic laboratories. To efficiently allocate the finite resources available, we propose a new strategy for prioritizing NPS with abuse liability testing using a preclinical behavioral procedure in rats known as intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS). To validate this assay, the recently-scheduled synthetic cathinone α-PHP was compared to cocaine, a mechanistically similar drug of abuse, as a positive control and saline as a negative control. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=6) were implanted with electrodes targeting the medial forebrain bundle and trained to respond by lever-press for electrical brain stimulation. The rats were tested with doses of 0.32, 1.0, and 3.2 mg/kg α-PHP as well as 10 mg/kg of cocaine and saline administered by intraperitoneal injection. Neither saline nor 0.32 mg/kg α-PHP altered ICSS response rates compared to baseline levels of responding; however, doses of 1.0 and 3.2 mg/kg α-PHP and 10 mg/kg cocaine facilitated ICSS responding. This ICSS profile suggests that α-PHP has high abuse potential, with a rapid onset of effects and a long duration of action, and supports the decision to schedule this compound. This study demonstrates the ability of ICSS to distinguish between compounds of low and high potential for abuse. A strategy is proposed here to screen NPS using ICSS and classify emerging drugs into four priority categories for further analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyson R. Baird
- Integrative Life Sciences Doctoral Program, Virginia Commonwealth University
- Department of Forensic Science, Virginia Commonwealth University
| | - Rachel A. Davies
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University
| | | | | | - S. Stevens Negus
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University
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