Synthesis and evaluation of an AZD2461 [18F]PET probe in non-human primates reveals the PARP-1 inhibitor to be non-blood-brain barrier penetrant.

Poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1 inhibitor (PARPi) AZD2461 was designed to be a weak P-glycoprotein (P-gp) analogue of FDA approved olaparib. With this chemical property in mind, we utilized the AZD2461 ligand architecture to develop a CNS penetrant and PARP-1 selective imaging probe, in order to investigate PARP-1 mediated neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Our work led to the identification of several high-affinity PARPi, including AZD2461 congener 9e (PARP-1 IC50 = 3.9 ±â€¯1.2 nM), which was further evaluated as a potential 18F-PET brain imaging probe. However, despite the similar molecular scaffolds of 9e and AZD2461, our studies revealed non-appreciable brain-uptake of [18F]9e in non-human primates, suggesting AZD2461 to be non-CNS penetrant.

Synthesis of bitopic ligands based on fallypride and evaluation of their affinity and selectivity towards dopamine D2 and D3 receptors.

The difference in the secondary binding site (SBS) between the dopamine 2 receptor (D2R) and dopamine 3 receptor (D3R) has been used in the design of compounds displaying selectivity for the D3R versus D2R. In the current study, a series of bitopic ligands based on Fallypride were prepared with various secondary binding fragments (SBFs) as a means of improving the selectivity of this benzamide analog for D3R versus D2R. We observed that compounds having a small alkyl group with a heteroatom led to an improvement in D3R versus D2R selectivity. Increasing the steric bulk in the SBF increase the distance between the pyrrolidine N and Asp110, thereby reducing D3R affinity. The best-in-series compound was (2S,4R)-trans-27 which had a modest selectivity for D3R versus D2R and a high potency in the ß-arrestin competition assay which provides a measure of the ability of the compound to compete with endogenous dopamine for binding to the D3R. The results of this study identified factors one should consider when designing bitopic ligands based on Fallypride displaying an improved affinity for D3R versus D2R.

Proceedings from the Fourth International Symposium on σ-2 Receptors: Role in Health and Disease.

The σ-2 receptor (S2R) complex has been implicated in CNS disorders ranging from anxiety and depression to neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). The proteins comprising the S2R complex impact processes including autophagy, cholesterol synthesis, progesterone signaling, lipid membrane-bound protein trafficking, and receptor stabilization at the cell surface. While there has been much progress in understanding the role of S2R in cellular processes and its potential therapeutic value, a great deal remains unknown. The International Symposium on Sigma-2 Receptors is held in conjunction with the annual Society for Neuroscience (SfN) conference to promote collaboration and advance the field of S2R research. This review summarizes updates presented at the Fourth International Symposium on Sigma-2 Receptors: Role in Health and Disease, a Satellite Symposium held at the 2019 SfN conference. Interdisciplinary members of the S2R research community presented both previously published and preliminary results from ongoing studies of the role of S2R in cellular metabolism, the anatomic and cellular expression patterns of S2R, the relationship between S2R and amyloid ß (Aß) in AD, the role of S2R complex protein PGRMC1 in health and disease, and the efforts to design new S2R ligands for the purposes of research and drug development. The proceedings from this symposium are reported here as an update on the field of S2R research, as well as to highlight the value of the symposia that occur yearly in conjunction with the SfN conference.

Leveraging a Low-Affinity Diazaspiro Orthosteric Fragment to Reduce Dopamine D3 Receptor (D3R) Ligand Promiscuity across Highly Conserved Aminergic G-Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs).

Previously, we reported a 3-(2-methoxyphenyl)-9-(3-((4-methyl-5-phenyl-4 H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)thio)propyl)-3,9-diazaspiro[5.5]undecane (1) compound with excellent dopamine D3 receptor (D3R) affinity (D3R Ki = 12.0 nM) and selectivity (D2R/D3R ratio = 905). Herein, we present derivatives of 1 with comparable D3R affinity (32, D3R Ki = 3.2 nM, D2R/D3R ratio = 60) and selectivity (30, D3R Ki = 21.0 nM, D2R/D3R ratio = 934). Fragmentation of 1 revealed orthosteric fragment 5a to express an unusually low D3R affinity ( Ki = 2.7 µM). Compared to piperazine congener 31, which retains a high-affinity orthosteric fragment (5d, D3R Ki = 23.9 nM), 1 was found to be more selective for the D3R among D1- and D2-like receptors and exhibited negligible off-target interactions at serotoninergic and adrenergic G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), common off-target sites for piperazine-containing D3R scaffolds. This study provides a unique rationale for implementing weakly potent orthosteric fragments into D3R ligand systems to minimize drug promiscuity at other aminergic GPCR sites.