Homobivalent ligands of the atypical antipsychotic clozapine: design, synthesis, and pharmacological evaluation

Photoactivatable Agonist-Antagonist Pair as a Tool for Precise Spatiotemporal Control of Serotonin Receptor 2C Signaling

Orthogonal recreation of the signaling profile of a chemical synapse is a current challenge in neuroscience. This is due in part to the kinetics of synaptic signaling, where neurotransmitters are rapidly released and quickly cleared by active reuptake machinery. One strategy to produce a rapid rise in an orthogonally controlled signal is via photocaged compounds. In this work, photocaged compounds are employed to recreate both the rapid rise and equally rapid fall in activation at a chemical synapse. Specifically, a complementary pair of photocages based on BODIPY were conjugated to a 5-HT2C subtype-selective agonist, WAY-161503, and antagonist, N-desmethylclozapine, to generate "caged" versions of these drugs. These conjugates release the bioactive drug upon illumination with green light (agonist) or red light (antagonist). We report on the synthesis, characterization, and bioactivity testing of the conjugates against the 5-HT2C receptor. We then characterize the kinetics of photolysis quantitatively using HPLC and qualitatively in cell culture conditions stimulating live cells. The compounds are shown to be stable in the dark for 48 h at room temperature, yet photolyze rapidly when irradiated with visible light. In live cells expressing the 5-HT2C receptor, precise spatiotemporal control of the degree and length of calcium signaling is demonstrated. By loading both compounds in tandem and leveraging spectral multiplexing as a noninvasive method to control local small-molecule drug availability, we can reproducibly initiate and suppress intracellular calcium flux on a timescale not possible by traditional methods of drug dosing. These tools enable a greater spatiotemporal control of 5-HT2C modulation and will allow for more detailed studies of the receptors' signaling, interactions with other proteins, and native physiology.

Recent advances in dopamine D2 receptor ligands in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders

Dopamine is a biologically active amine synthesized in the central and peripheral nervous system. This biogenic monoamine acts by activating five types of dopamine receptors (D_1-5 Rs), which belong to the G protein-coupled receptor family. Antagonists and partial agonists of D₂ Rs are used to treat schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, depression, and anxiety. The typical pharmacophore with high D₂ R affinity comprises four main areas, namely aromatic moiety, cyclic amine, central linker and aromatic/heteroaromatic lipophilic fragment. From the literature reviewed herein, we can conclude that 4-(2,3-dichlorophenyl), 4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-, 4-(benzo[b]thiophen-4-yl)-1-substituted piperazine, and 4-(6-fluorobenzo[d]isoxazol-3-yl)piperidine moieties are critical for high D₂ R affinity. Four to six atoms chains are optimal for D₂ R affinity with 4-butoxyl as the most pronounced one. The bicyclic aromatic/heteroaromatic systems are most frequently occurring as lipophilic appendages to retain high D₂ R affinity. In this review, we provide a thorough overview of the therapeutic potential of D₂ R modulators in the treatment of the aforementioned disorders. In addition, this review summarizes current knowledge about these diseases, with a focus on the dopaminergic pathway underlying these pathologies. Major attention is paid to the structure, function, and pharmacology of novel D₂ R ligands, which have been developed in the last decade (2010-2021), and belong to the 1,4-disubstituted aromatic cyclic amine group. Due to the abundance of data, allosteric D₂ R ligands and D₂ R modulators from patents are not discussed in this review.

Developing Photoaffinity Probes for Dopamine Receptor D2 to Determine Targets of Parkinson's Disease Drugs

Dopaminergic pathways control highly consequential aspects of physiology and behavior. One of the most therapeutically important and best-studied receptors in these pathways is dopamine receptor D₂ (DRD2). Unfortunately, DRD2 is challenging to study with traditional molecular biological techniques, and most drugs designed to target DRD2 are ligands for many other receptors. Here, we developed probes able to both covalently bind to DRD2 using photoaffinity labeling and provide a chemical handle for detection or affinity purification. These probes behaved like good DRD2 agonists in traditional biochemical assays and were able to perform in chemical-biological assays of cell and receptor labeling. Rat whole brain labeling and affinity enrichment using the probes permitted proteomic analysis of the probes' interacting proteins. Bioinformatic study of the hits revealed that the probes bound noncanonically targeted proteins in Parkinson's disease network as well as the retrograde endocannabinoid signaling, neuronal nitric oxide synthase, muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M1, GABA receptor, and dopamine receptor D₁ (DRD1) signaling networks. Follow-up analysis may yield insights into how this pathway relates specifically to Parkinson's disease symptoms or provide new targets for treatments. This work reinforces the notion that the combination of chemical biology and omics-based approaches provides a broad picture of a molecule's "interactome" and may also give insight into the pleiotropy of effects observed for a drug or perhaps indicate new applications.

Dysfunctional Heteroreceptor Complexes as Novel Targets for the Treatment of Major Depressive and Anxiety Disorders

Among mental diseases, major depressive disorder (MDD) and anxiety deserve a special place due to their high prevalence and their negative impact both on society and patients suffering from these disorders. Consequently, the development of novel strategies designed to treat them quickly and efficiently, without or at least having limited side effects, is considered a highly important goal. Growing evidence indicates that emerging properties are developed on recognition, trafficking, and signaling of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) upon their heteromerization with other types of GPCRs, receptor tyrosine kinases, and ionotropic receptors such as N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Therefore, to develop new treatments for MDD and anxiety, it will be important to identify the most vulnerable heteroreceptor complexes involved in MDD and anxiety. This review focuses on how GPCRs, especially serotonin, dopamine, galanin, and opioid heteroreceptor complexes, modulate synaptic and volume transmission in the limbic networks of the brain. We attempt to provide information showing how these emerging concepts can contribute to finding new ways to treat both MDD and anxiety disorders.

GPCR heteromers: An overview of their classification, function and physiological relevance

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are capable of interacting to form higher order structures such as homomers and heteromers. Heteromerisation in particular has implications for receptor function, with research showing receptors can attain unique expression, ligand binding, signalling and intracellular trafficking upon heteromerisation. As such, GPCR heteromers represent novel drug targets with extensive therapeutic potential. Changes to ligand affinity, efficacy and G protein coupling have all been described, with alterations to these pharmacological aspects now well accepted as common traits for heteromeric complexes. Changes in internalisation and trafficking kinetics, as well as β-arrestin interactions are also becoming more apparent, however, few studies to date have explicitly looked at the implications these factors have upon the signalling profile of a heteromer. Development of ligands to target GPCR heteromers both experimentally and therapeutically has been mostly concentrated on bivalent ligands due to difficulties in identifying and developing heteromer-specific ligands. Improving our understanding of the pharmacology and physiology of GPCR heteromers will enable further development of heteromer-specific ligands with potential to provide therapeutics with increased efficacy and decreased side effects.

An Integrated Approach toward NanoBRET Tracers for Analysis of GPCR Ligand Engagement

Gaining insight into the pharmacology of ligand engagement with G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) under biologically relevant conditions is vital to both drug discovery and basic research. NanoLuc-based bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (NanoBRET) monitoring competitive binding between fluorescent tracers and unmodified test compounds has emerged as a robust and sensitive method to quantify ligand engagement with specific GPCRs genetically fused to NanoLuc luciferase or the luminogenic HiBiT peptide. However, development of fluorescent tracers is often challenging and remains the principal bottleneck for this approach. One way to alleviate the burden of developing a specific tracer for each receptor is using promiscuous tracers, which is made possible by the intrinsic specificity of BRET. Here, we devised an integrated tracer discovery workflow that couples machine learning-guided in silico screening for scaffolds displaying promiscuous binding to GPCRs with a blend of synthetic strategies to rapidly generate multiple tracer candidates. Subsequently, these candidates were evaluated for binding in a NanoBRET ligand-engagement screen across a library of HiBiT-tagged GPCRs. Employing this workflow, we generated several promiscuous fluorescent tracers that can effectively engage multiple GPCRs, demonstrating the efficiency of this approach. We believe that this workflow has the potential to accelerate discovery of NanoBRET fluorescent tracers for GPCRs and other target classes.

Homobivalent Dopamine D2 Receptor Ligands Modulate the Dynamic Equilibrium of D2 Monomers and Homo- and Heterodimers

Dopamine D₂ receptors (D₂Rs) are major targets in the treatment of psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. As with many other G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), D₂Rs interact within the cellular membrane, leading to a transient receptor homo- or heterodimerization. These interactions are known to alter ligand binding, signaling, and receptor trafficking. Bivalent ligands are ideally suited to target GPCR dimers and are composed of two pharmacophores connected by a spacer element. If properly designed, bivalent ligands are able to engange the two orthosteric binding sites of a GPCR dimer simultaneously. Taking advantage of previously developed ligands for heterodimers of D₂R and the neurotensin receptor 1 (NTSR1), we synthesized homobivalent ligands targeting D₂R. Employing bioluminescence resonance energy transfer, we found that the bivalent ligands 3b and 4b comprising a 92-atom spacer are able to foster D₂R-homodimerization while simultaneously reducing interactions of D₂R with NTSR1. Both receptors are coexpressed in the central nervous system and involved in important physiological processes. The newly developed bivalent ligands are excellent tools to further understand the pharmacological consequences of D₂R homo- and heterodimerization. Not limited to the dopaminergic system, modifying class A GPCRs' dynamic equilibrium between monomers, homomers, and heteromers with bivalent ligands may represent a novel pharmacological concept paving the way toward innovative drugs.

The size matters? A computational tool to design bivalent ligands

Motivation

Bivalent ligands are increasingly important such as for targeting G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) dimers or proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs). They contain two pharmacophoric units that simultaneously bind in their corresponding binding sites, connected with a spacer chain. Here, we report a molecular modelling tool that links the pharmacophore units via the shortest pathway along the receptors van der Waals surface and then scores the solutions providing prioritization for the design of new bivalent ligands.

Results

Bivalent ligands of known dimers of GPCRs, PROTACs and a model bivalent antibody/antigen system were analysed. The tool could rapidly assess the preferred linker length for the different systems and recapitulated the best reported results. In the case of GPCR dimers the results suggest that in some cases these ligands might bind to a secondary binding site at the extracellular entrance (vestibule or allosteric site) instead of the orthosteric binding site.

Availability and implementation

Freely accessible from the Molecular Operating Environment svl exchange server (https://svl.chemcomp.com/).

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

2016 Philip S. Portoghese Medicinal Chemistry Lectureship: Designing Bivalent or Bitopic Molecules for G-Protein Coupled Receptors. The Whole Is Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts

The genesis of designing bivalent or bitopic molecules that engender unique pharmacological properties began with Portoghese's work directed toward opioid receptors, in the early 1980s. This strategy has evolved as an attractive way to engineer highly selective compounds for targeted G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) with optimized efficacies and/or signaling bias. The emergence of X-ray crystal structures of many GPCRs and the identification of both orthosteric and allosteric binding sites have provided further guidance to ligand drug design that includes a primary pharmacophore (PP), a secondary pharmacophore (SP), and a linker between them. It is critical to note the synergistic relationship among all three of these components as they contribute to the overall interaction of these molecules with their receptor proteins and that strategically designed combinations have and will continue to provide the GPCR molecular tools of the future.

Dopamine D2 Receptors Dimers: How can we Pharmacologically Target Them?

BACKGROUND

Dopamine D2 and D3 receptors can form homo- and heterodimers and are important targets in Schizophrenia and Parkinson's. Recently, many efforts have been made to pharmacologically target these receptor complexes. This review focuses on various strategies to act specifically on dopamine receptor dimers, that are transiently formed.

METHODS

Various binding and functional assays were reviewed to study the properties of bivalent ligands, particularly for the dualsteric compound SB269,652. The dimerization of D2 and D3 receptors were analyzed by using single particle tracking microscopy.

RESULTS

The specific targeting of dopamine D2 and D3 dimers can be achieved with bifunctional ligands, composed of two pharmacophores binding the two orthosteric sites of the dimeric complex. If the target is a homodimer, then the ligand is homobivalent. Instead, if the target is a heterodimer, then the ligand is heterobivalent. However, there is some concern regarding pharmacokinetics and binding properties of such drugs. Recently, a new generation of bitopic compounds with dualsteric properties have been discovered that bind to the orthosteric and the allosteric sites in one monomeric receptor. Regarding dopamine D2 and D3 receptors, a new dualsteric molecule SB269,652 was shown to have selective negative allosteric properties across D2 and D3 homodimers, but it behaves as an orthosteric antagonist on receptor monomer. Targeting dimers is also complicated as they are transiently formed with varying monomer/dimer ratio. Furthermore, this ratio can be altered by administering an agonist or a bifunctional antagonist.

CONCLUSION

Last 15 years have witnessed an explosive amount of work aimed at generating bifunctional compounds as a novel strategy to target GPCR homo- and heterodimers, including dopamine receptors. Their clinical use is far from trivial, but, at least, they have been used to validate the existence of receptor dimers in-vitro and in-vivo. The dualsteric compound SB269, 652, with its peculiar pharmacological profile, may offer therapeutic advantages and a better tolerability in comparison with pure antagonists at D2 and D3 receptors and pave the way for a new generation of antipsychotic drugs.

Current Concepts and Treatments of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a debilitating mental illness which involves three groups of symptoms, i.e., positive, negative and cognitive, and has major public health implications. According to various sources, it affects up to 1% of the population. The pathomechanism of schizophrenia is not fully understood and current antipsychotics are characterized by severe limitations. Firstly, these treatments are efficient for about half of patients only. Secondly, they ameliorate mainly positive symptoms (e.g., hallucinations and thought disorders which are the core of the disease) but negative (e.g., flat affect and social withdrawal) and cognitive (e.g., learning and attention disorders) symptoms remain untreated. Thirdly, they involve severe neurological and metabolic side effects and may lead to sexual dysfunction or agranulocytosis (clozapine). It is generally agreed that the interactions of antipsychotics with various neurotransmitter receptors are responsible for their effects to treat schizophrenia symptoms. In particular, several G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), mainly dopamine, serotonin and adrenaline receptors, are traditional molecular targets for antipsychotics. Comprehensive research on GPCRs resulted in the exploration of novel important signaling mechanisms of GPCRs which are crucial for drug discovery: intentionally non-selective multi-target compounds, allosteric modulators, functionally selective compounds and receptor oligomerization. In this review, we cover current hypotheses of schizophrenia, involving different neurotransmitter systems, discuss available treatments and present novel concepts in schizophrenia and its treatment, involving mainly novel mechanisms of GPCRs signaling.

Molecular targets of atypical antipsychotics: From mechanism of action to clinical differences

The introduction of atypical antipsychotics (AAPs) since the discovery of its prototypical drug clozapine has been a revolutionary pharmacological step for treating psychotic patients as these allow a significant recovery not only in terms of hospitalization and reduction in symptoms severity, but also in terms of safety, socialization and better rehabilitation in the society. Regarding the mechanism of action, AAPs are weak D₂ receptor antagonists and they act beyond D₂ antagonism, involving other receptor targets which regulate dopamine and other neurotransmitters. Consequently, AAPs present a significant reduction of deleterious side effects like parkinsonism, hyperprolactinemia, apathy and anhedonia, which are all linked to the strong blockade of D₂ receptors. This review revisits previous and current findings within the class of AAPs and highlights the differences in terms of receptor properties and clinical activities among them. Furthermore, we propose a continuum spectrum of "atypia" that begins with risperidone (the least atypical) to clozapine (the most atypical), while all the other AAPs fall within the extremes of this spectrum. Clozapine is still considered the gold standard in refractory schizophrenia and in psychoses present in Parkinson's disease, though it has been associated with adverse effects like agranulocytosis (0.7%) and weight gain, pushing the scientific community to find new drugs as effective as clozapine, but devoid of its side effects. To achieve this, it is therefore imperative to characterize and compare in depth the very complex molecular profile of AAPs. We also introduce relatively new concepts like biased agonism, receptor dimerization and neurogenesis to identify better the old and new hallmarks of "atypia". Finally, a detailed confrontation of clinical differences among the AAPs is presented, especially in relation to their molecular targets, and new means like therapeutic drug monitoring are also proposed to improve the effectiveness of AAPs in clinical practice.

Sodium deoxycholate mediated enhanced solubilization and stability of hydrophobic drug Clozapine in pluronic micelles

In this report, the solubilization behaviour of a hydrophobic drug Clozapine (CLZ) in micellar suspensions of pluronics having different hydrophilic lipophilic balance (HLB) ratios viz. P84, F127 and F108 in the absence and presence of bile salt sodium deoxycholate (SDC) has been studied. UV-Vis spectroscopy has been exploited to determine the solubilization capacity of the investigated micellar systems in terms of drug loading efficiency, average number of drug molecules solubilized per micelle (n_s), partition coefficient (P) and standard free energy of solubilization (∆G^°). The morphological and structural changes taking place in pluronics in different concentration regimes of SDC and with the addition of drug CLZ has been explored using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and small angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements. The SANS results revealed that aggregation behaviour of pluronic-SDC mixed micelles gets improved in the presence of drug. The micropolarity measurements have been performed to shed light on the locus of solubilization of the drug in pure and mixed micellar systems. The compatibility between CLZ and drug carriers (pluronics and SDC) was confirmed using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques. Among the investigated systems, P84-SDC mixed system was found to be highly efficient for CLZ loading. The long term stability data indicated that CLZ loaded P84-SDC mixed micellar formulation remained stable for 3months at room temperature. Further, it was revealed that the CLZ loaded P84-SDC mixed micelles are converted into CLZ loaded pure P84 micelles at 30-fold dilutions which remain stable up to 48-fold dilutions. The results from the present studies suggest that P84-SDC mixed micelles can serve as suitable delivery vehicles for hydrophobic drug CLZ.

O, Divakar K, Paplal B, Kashinath D. “On water” synthesis of dibenzo-[1,4]-diazepin-1-ones using l-proline as an organocatalyst and under catalyst-free conditions, and their evaluation as α-glucosidase inhibitors

Functionalized dibenzo-[1,4]-diazepin-1-ones are synthesized using the “on-water” concept in the presence of l-proline (organocatalyst; 20 mol%) and under catalyst free conditions (sealed tube) in an aqueous medium.

The dopamine D2 receptor dimer and its interaction with homobivalent antagonists: homology modeling, docking and molecular dynamics

In order to apply structure-based drug design techniques to G protein-coupled receptor complexes, it is essential to model their 3D structure and to identify regions that are suitable for selective drug binding. For this purpose, we have developed and tested a multi-component protocol to model the inactive conformation of the dopamine D2 receptor dimer, suitable for interaction with homobivalent antagonists. Our approach was based on protein-protein docking, applying the Rosetta software to obtain populations of dimers as present in membranes with all the main possible interfaces. Consensus scoring based on the values and frequencies of best interfaces regarding four scoring parameters, Rosetta interface score, interface area, free energy of binding and energy of hydrogen bond interactions indicated that the best scored dimer model possesses a TM4-TM5-TM7-TM1 interface, which is in agreement with experimental data. This model was used to study interactions of the previously published dopamine D2 receptor homobivalent antagonists based on clozapine,1,4-disubstituted aromatic piperidines/piperazines and arylamidoalkyl substituted phenylpiperazine pharmacophores. It was found that the homobivalent antagonists stabilize the receptor-inactive conformation by maintaining the ionic lock interaction, and change the dimer interface by disrupting a set of hydrogen bonds and maintaining water- and ligand-mediated hydrogen bonds in the extracellular and intracellular part of the interface. Graphical Abstract Structure of the final model of the dopamine D2 receptor homodimer, indicating the distancebetween Tyr37 and Tyr 5.42 in the apo form (left) and in the complex with the ligand (right).

Structure-guided development of heterodimer-selective GPCR ligands

Crystal structures of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) ligand complexes allow a rational design of novel molecular probes and drugs. Here we report the structure-guided design, chemical synthesis and biological investigations of bivalent ligands for dopamine D₂ receptor/neurotensin NTS₁ receptor (D₂R/NTS₁R) heterodimers. The compounds of types 1–3 consist of three different D₂R pharmacophores bound to an affinity-generating lipophilic appendage, a polyethylene glycol-based linker and the NTS₁R agonist NT(8-13). The bivalent ligands show binding affinity in the picomolar range for cells coexpressing both GPCRs and unprecedented selectivity (up to three orders of magnitude), compared with cells that only express D₂Rs. A functional switch is observed for the bivalent ligands 3b,c inhibiting cAMP formation in cells singly expressing D₂Rs but stimulating cAMP accumulation in D₂R/NTS₁R-coexpressing cells. Moreover, the newly synthesized bivalent ligands show a strong, predominantly NTS₁R-mediated β-arrestin-2 recruitment at the D₂R/NTS₁R-coexpressing cells.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are involved in key signalling pathways and represent important targets for the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Here, the authors describe powerful bivalent ligands that efficiently bind to therapeutically relevant GPCR heterodimers

Multivalent approaches and beyond: novel tools for the investigation of dopamine D2 receptor pharmacology

The dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) has been implicated in the symptomology of disorders such as schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease. Multivalent ligands provide useful tools to investigate emerging concepts of G protein-coupled receptor drug action such as allostery, bitopic binding and receptor dimerization. This review focuses on the approaches taken toward the development of multivalent ligands for the D2R recently and highlights the challenges associated with each approach, their utility in probing D2R function and approaches to develop new D2R-targeting drugs. Furthermore, we extend our discussion to the possibility of designing multitarget ligands. The insights gained from such studies may provide the basis for improved therapeutic targeting of the D2R.

Piperazine scaffold: A remarkable tool in generation of diverse pharmacological agents

Piperazine is one of the most sought heterocyclics for the development of new drug candidates. This ring can be traced in a number of well established, commercially available drugs. Wide array of pharmacological activities exhibited by piperazine derivatives have made them indispensable anchors for the development of novel therapeutic agents. The review herein highlights the therapeutic significance of piperazine derivatives. Various therapeutically active piperazine derivatives developed by several chemists are reported here.

PNA-Based Multivalent Scaffolds Activate the Dopamine D2 Receptor

Peptide nucleic acid scaffolds represent a promising tool to interrogate the multivalent effects of ligand binding to a membrane receptor. Dopamine D2 receptors (D2R) are a class of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), and the formation of higher-ordered structures of these receptors has been associated with the progression of several neurological diseases. In this Letter, we describe the synthesis of a library of ligand-modified PNAs bearing a known D2R agonist, (±)-PPHT. The D2R activity for each construct was assessed, and the multivalent effects were evaluated.

Design, synthesis and in vitro evaluation of novel uni- and bivalent ligands for the cannabinoid receptor type 1 with variation of spacer length and structure

Using rimonabant, a potent inverse agonist for cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R), as parent ligand, a series of novel univalent and bivalent ligands were designed by variation of spacer length and its chemical structure. The ligands synthesized were evaluated for affinity and selectivity by radioligand displacement and a functional steady-state GTPase assay. The results showed the nature of the spacer influences the biological readout. Albeit all compounds show significantly lower affinities than rimonabant, this fact could be used to demonstrate that affinities and selectivity are influenced by the chemical structure and length of the spacer and might be helpful for designing bivalent probes for other GPCR receptors.

Synthesis and binding profile of haloperidol-based bivalent ligands targeting dopamine D(2)-like receptors

Homodimers of dopamine D2-like receptors are suggested to be of particular importance in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and, thus, serve as promising targets for the discovery of atypical antipsychotics. This study describes the development of a series of novel bivalent molecules with a pharmacophore derived from the dopamine receptor antagonist haloperidol. These dimers were investigated in comparison to their monomeric analogues for their D2long, D2short, D3, and D4 receptor binding and the ability to bridge two neighboring receptor protomers. Radioligand binding studies provided diagnostic insights when Hill slopes close to two for the bivalent ligand 13 incorporating 22 spacer atoms and a comparative analysis with monovalent control ligands indicated a bivalent binding mode with a simultaneous occupancy of two neighboring binding sites.

Investigation of novel ropinirole analogues: synthesis, pharmacological evaluation and computational analysis of dopamine D2 receptor functionalized congeners and homobivalent ligands

This study includes the synthesis, pharmacological evaluation and molecular modeling study of novel ropinirole-based monovalent and homobivalent ligands.

X-ray structural information of GPCRs in drug design: what are the limitations and where do we go?

INTRODUCTION

In 2007, the X-ray structural determination of non-rhodopsin G-Protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), considered the most extensively targeted protein class for marketed drugs, commenced. With the relatively rapid availability of additional structures, an assessment of the progression made is needed in addition to the assessment of the understandings gleaned, deployment successes and forthcoming prospects.

AREAS COVERED

The author reviews the approaches and tools that have made it possible to determine the three dimensional structures of GPCRs using X-ray crystallography. Furthermore, the author describes the methods suited for crystallization of membrane bound GPCR proteins including the lipidic cubic phase and various protein modification approaches. The author also provides highlights, from the literature, of the structures determined to date including targets solved, the nature of the content provided (such as selectivity, activating vs. inactivating determinants) and how these structural features relate to drug design strategies.

EXPERT OPINION

The GPCR X-ray structures that have been so far determined have yielded significant information. This has presented dramatic evidence concerning their ability to impact the discovery of compounds through their action as traditional, orthosteric modulators. It is, however, noted that more challenging design strategies, such as identifying biased agonists and the use of sites remote from the orthosteric site for allosteric modulation, are still in their infancy.

α₁-Adrenoceptor and serotonin 5-HT(1A) receptor affinity of homobivalent 4-aminoquinoline compounds: an investigation of the effect of linker length

α₁-adrenoceptor (α₁-AR) subtype-selective ligands lacking off-target affinity for the 5-HT(1A) receptor (5-HT(1A)-R) will provide therapeutic benefits in the treatment of urogenital conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia. In this study we determined the affinity of 4-aminoquinoline and eleven homobivalent 4-aminoquinoline ligands (diquinolines) with alkane linkers of 2-12 atoms (C2-C12) for α(1A), α(1B) and α(1D)-ARs and the 5-HT(1A)-R. These ligands are α(1A)-AR antagonists with nanomolar affinity for α(1A) and α(1B)-ARs. They display linker-length dependent selectivity for α(1A/B)-ARs over α(1D)-AR and the 5-HT(1A)-R. The C2 diquinoline has the highest affinity for α1A-AR (pKi 7.60±0.26) and greater than 30-fold and 600-fold selectivity for α(1A)-AR over α(1D)-AR and 5-HT(1A)-R respectively. A decrease in affinity for α₁-ARs is observed as the linker length increases, reaching a nadir at 5 (α(1A/1B)-ARs) or 6 (α(1D)-AR) atoms; after which affinity increases as the linker is lengthened, peaking at 9 (α(1A/1B/1D)-ARs) or 8 (5-HT(1A)-R) atoms. Docking studies suggest that 4-aminoquinoline and C2 bind within the orthosteric binding site, while for C9 one end is situated within the orthosteric binding pocket, while the other 4-aminoquinoline moiety interacts with the extracellular surface. The limited α(1D)-AR and 5-HT(1A)-R affinity of these compounds makes them promising leads for future drug development of α(1A)-AR selective ligands without α(1D)-AR and the 5-HT(1A)-R off-target activity.

Description of a bivalent cannabinoid ligand with hypophagic properties

A series of bivalent cannabinoid ligands is proposed. The synthesis of double amides based on the rimonabant structure separated by an alkyl chain and the evaluation of their affinities for cannabinoid receptors are reported. The data of 4d confirmed that a bivalent structure is a suitable scaffold for CB1 cannabinoid receptor binding. The compound 4d was selected for in vitro and in vivo pharmacological evaluations. Moreover, intraperitoneal administration of 4d to food-deprived rats resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of feeding that was maintained up to 240 min.

Novel bivalent ligands for D2/D3 dopamine receptors: Significant co-operative gain in D2 affinity and potency

This report describes development of a series of novel bivalent molecules with a pharmacophore derived from the D2/D3 agonist 5-OH-DPAT. Spacer length in the bivalent compounds had a pronounced influence on affinity for D2 receptors. A 23-fold increase of D2 affinity was observed at a spacer length of 9 or 10 (compounds 11d and 14b) compared to monovalent 5-OH-DPAT (Ki; 2.5 and 2.0 vs. 59 nM for 11d and 14b vs. 5-OH-DPAT, respectively). Functional potency of 11d and 14b indicated a 24- and 94-fold increase in potency at the D2 receptor compared to 5-OH-DPAT (EC50; 1.7 and 0.44 vs. 41 nM for 11d and 14b vs. 5-OH-DPAT, respectively). These are the most potent bivalent agonists for D2 receptor known to date. This synergism is consonant with cooperative interaction at the two orthosteric binding sites in the homodimeric receptor.