Structural Fusion of Natural and Synthetic Ligand Features Boosts RXR Agonist Potency.

The retinoid X receptors (RXRs) are ligand-activated transcription factors involved in, for example, differentiation and apoptosis regulation. Currently used reference RXR agonists suffer from insufficient specificity and poor physicochemical properties, and improved tools are needed to capture the unexplored therapeutic potential of RXR. Endogenous vitamin A-derived RXR ligands and the natural product RXR agonist valerenic acid comprise acrylic acid residues with varying substitution patterns to engage the critical ionic contact with the binding site arginine. To mimic and exploit this natural ligand motif, we probed its structural fusion with synthetic RXR modulator scaffolds, which had profound effects on agonist activity and remarkably boosted potency of an oxaprozin-derived RXR agonist chemotype. Bioisosteric replacement of the acrylic acid to overcome its pan-assay interference compounds (PAINS) character enabled the development of a highly optimized RXR agonist chemical probe.

Structure-Guided Design of Nurr1 Agonists Derived from the Natural Ligand Dihydroxyindole.

The neuroprotective transcription factor Nurr1 was recently found to bind the dopamine metabolite 5,6-dihydroxyindole (DHI) providing access to Nurr1 ligand design from a natural template. We screened a custom set of 14 k extended DHI analogues in silico for optimized descendants to select 24 candidates for microscale synthesis and in vitro testing. Three out of six primary hits were validated as novel Nurr1 agonists with up to sub-micromolar binding affinity, highlighting the druggability of the Nurr1 surface region lining helix 12. In vitro profiling confirmed cellular target engagement of DHI descendants and demonstrated remarkable additive effects of combined Nurr1 agonist treatment, indicating diverse binding sites mediating Nurr1 activation, which may open new avenues in Nurr1 modulation.

Development of a Potent Nurr1 Agonist Tool for In Vivo Applications.

Nuclear receptor related 1 (Nurr1) is a neuroprotective transcription factor and an emerging target in neurodegenerative diseases. Despite strong evidence for a role in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, pharmacological control and validation of Nurr1 are hindered by a lack of suitable ligands. We have discovered considerable Nurr1 activation by the clinically studied dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) inhibitor vidofludimus calcium and systematically optimized this scaffold to a Nurr1 agonist with nanomolar potency, strong activation efficacy, and pronounced preference over the highly related receptors Nur77 and NOR1. The optimized compound induced Nurr1-regulated gene expression in astrocytes and exhibited favorable pharmacokinetics in rats, thus emerging as a superior chemical tool to study Nurr1 activation in vitro and in vivo.

Development of New Photoswitchable Azobenzene Based γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Uptake Inhibitors with Distinctly Enhanced Potency upon Photoactivation.

A series of nipecotic acid derivatives with new azo benzene based photoswitchable N-substituents was synthesized and characterized in their ( E)- and ( Z)-form for their functional inhibitory activity at γ-aminobutyric acid transporters subtype 1 (GAT1), the most common γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transporter subtype in the central nervous system (CNS). This led to the identification of the first photoswitchable ligands exhibiting a moderate uptake inhibition of GABA in their ( E)- but distinctive higher inhibitory potency in their ( Z)-form resulting from photoirradiation. For the most efficient photoactivatable nipecotic acid derivative displaying an N-but-3-yn-1-yl linker with a terminal diphenyldiazene unit, an inhibitory potency of 4.65 ± 0.05 (pIC50) was found for its ( E)-form. which increased by almost two log units up to 6.38 ± 0.04 when irradiated. The effect of this photoswitchable mGAT1 inhibitor has also been evaluated and confirmed in patch-clamp recordings in acute hippocampal slices from mice.

Novel, highly potent and in vivo active inhibitor of GABA transporter subtype 1 with anticonvulsant, anxiolytic, antidepressant and antinociceptive properties.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Since GABAergic dysfunction underlies a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders, numerous strategies leading to the augmentation of GABAergic neurotransmission have been introduced. One of them is the inhibition of GABA reuptake from the synaptic cleft mediated by four plasma membrane GABA transporters (GAT1-4). GAT1 which is exclusively expressed in the brain is an interesting target for centrally acting drugs. In this research, pharmacological properties of a novel, highly potent and selective inhibitor of GAT1, the guvacine derivative named DDPM-2571, were assessed in vivo. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Pharmacological effects and pharmacokinetics of intraperitoneally administered DDPM-2571 were assessed in CD-1 mice. KEY RESULTS: DDPM-2571 was quickly distributed into the brain and was highly effective in the prevention of chemically-induced seizures (pentylenetetrazole and pilocarpine models) and 6-Hz convulsions. It demonstrated significant anxiolytic-like and antidepressant-like properties. DDPM-2571 had antinociceptive properties, both in the hot plate test and in the second phase of the formalin test. Within the dose range tested, it did not impair animals' motor skills, but it impaired cognition and potentiated scopolamine-induced cognitive deficits in the passive avoidance task. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Due to GAT1 inhibition, DDPM-2571 is effective in mouse models of chemically-induced seizures, anxiety, depression, acute and tonic pain. At biologically active doses, it does not impair animals' motor skills, but it might induce memory deficits. Taken together, DDPM-2571 can be regarded as a promising lead structure in the search for new centrally acting drugs and a potent pharmacological tool to study the biological role of GAT1.

Different Binding Modes of Small and Large Binders of GAT1.

Well-known inhibitors of the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transporter GAT1 share a common scaffold of a small cyclic amino acid linked by an alkyl chain to a moiety with two aromatic rings. Tiagabine, the only FDA-approved GAT1 inhibitor, is a typical example. Some small amino acids such as (R)-nipecotic acid are medium-to-strong binders of GAT1, but similar compounds, such as proline, are very weak binders. When substituted with 4,4-diphenylbut-3-en-1-yl (DPB) or 4,4-bis(3-methylthiophen-2-yl)but-3-en-1-yl (BTB) groups, the resulting compounds have similar pKi and pIC50 values, even though the pure amino acids have very different values. To investigate if small amino acids and their substituted counterparts share a similar binding mode, we synthesized butyl-, DPB-, and BTB-substituted derivatives of small amino acids. Supported by the results of docking studies, we propose different binding modes not only for unsubstituted und substituted, but also for strong- and weak-binding amino acids. These data lead to the conclusion that following a fragment-based approach, not pure but N-butyl-substituted amino acids should be used as starting points, giving a better estimate of the activity when a BTB or DPB substituent is added.

Development of Highly Potent GAT1 Inhibitors: Synthesis of Nipecotic Acid Derivatives by Suzuki-Miyaura Cross-Coupling Reactions.

A new series of potent and selective mGAT1 inhibitors has been identified, featuring a nipecotic acid residue and an N-butenyl linker with a 2-biphenyl residue at the ω-position. Docking, combined with MD calculations, revealed a binding mode for the new compounds similar to that of tiagabine, the only mGAT1 inhibitor currently approved as antiepileptic drug. For the synthesis, a Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction was used as a key step by which variously substituted biaryl subunits were assembled. Biological evaluation revealed several compounds that possess binding affinities and inhibitory potencies toward mGAT1, together with subtype selectivities against mGAT2-mGAT4 that were similar to or even higher than those for tiagabine. A derivative carrying the 2',4'-dichloro-2-biphenyl moiety attached to N-but-3-enylnipecotic acid at the terminal position of the linker chain was found to be the most potent binder, with the racemic form of the compound displaying a binding affinity of 8.05±0.13 (pKi ), while the R enantiomer exhibited an affinity value of 8.33±0.06 (pKi ).

First photoswitchable neurotransmitter transporter inhibitor: light-induced control of γ-aminobutyric acid transporter 1 (GAT1) activity in mouse brain.

Inhibition of mGAT1, the most abundant GABA transporter in the brain, enhances GABA signaling and alleviates symptoms of CNS disorders such as epilepsy assumed to be associated with low GABA levels. We have now developed a potent and subtype selective photoswitchable inhibitor of this transporter, which for the first time extends the photoswitch concept for the light-induced control of ligand affinity to active membrane transporters. The new inhibitor exhibited reduced activity upon irradiation with light, as demonstrated in GABA uptake assays and electrophysiological experiments with brain slices, and might be used as a tool compound for deepening the understanding of mGAT1 function in brain.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 4-hydroxy-4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-substituted proline and pyrrolidin-2-ylacetic acid derivatives as GABA uptake inhibitors.

A series of enantiomerically pure 4-hydroxy-4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-substituted proline and pyrrolidin-2-ylacetic acid derivatives have been synthesized starting from the respective N-protected 4-hydroxy derivatives via oxidation to the corresponding 4-oxo compounds, subsequent addition of organometallic reagents, final hydrolysis and deprotection. The major diastereoisomers obtained by the addition of the Grignard reagents were found to have opposite stereoconfigurations depending on whether cerium trichloride was present or absent as an additive. The final compounds were evaluated for their capability to inhibit the GABA transport proteins GAT1 and GAT3. 4-Hydroxyproline derivatives substituted with a tris(4-methoxyphenyl)methyloxyethyl residue at the nitrogen and a 4-methoxyphenyl group in 4-position showed, with the exception of the (2R,4R)-diastereomer, an improved inhibition at GAT3 compared to the derivatives missing the 4-methoxyphenyl group in 4-position. This may imply that an appropriate lipophilic group at the C-4 position of the proline moiety is beneficial for potent inhibition at GAT3.

Development of an (S)-1-{2-[tris(4-methoxyphenyl)methoxy]ethyl}piperidine-3-carboxylic acid [(S)-SNAP-5114] carba analogue inhibitor for murine γ-aminobutyric acid transporter type 4.

A series of GABA uptake inhibitors related to (S)-1-{2-[tris(4-methoxyphenyl)methoxy]ethyl}piperidine-3-carboxylic acid [(S)-SNAP-5114], the most potent mGAT4 inhibitor known so far, were synthesized and biologically evaluated for their inhibitory potency at the four GABA uptake transporters mGAT1-4 stably expressed in HEK-293 cell lines. New analogues were developed with potencies that are similar to or slightly higher than those of current mGAT4 inhibitors, but with distinctly improved chemical stability. (S)-Nipecotic acid derivatives possessing a 2-[1-(4-methoxy-2-methylphenyl)-1,1-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)methoxy]ethyl (DDPM-859) or a 4,4,4-tris(4-methoxyphenyl)but-2-en-1-yl moiety (DDPM-1457) were found to exhibit pIC(50) values of 5.78 and 5.87, respectively. Thus, as mGAT4 inhibitors, these compounds compare well with (S)-SNAP-5114 (pIC(50) =5.71), but are far more stable than the latter. Moreover, DDPM-859 displays a more favorable subtype selectivity for mGAT4 versus mGAT3 than does (S)-SNAP-5114.

Development of imidazole alkanoic acids as mGAT3 selective GABA uptake inhibitors.

A new series of potential GABA uptake inhibitors starting from of 1H-imidazol-4-ylacetic acid with the carboxylic acid side chain originating from different positions and varying in length have been synthesized and tested for the inhibitory potency at the four GABA uptake transporters mGAT1-4 stably expressed in HEK cells. Further two bicyclic compounds with a rigidified carboxylic acid side chain were included in this study. The results of the biological tests indicated that most ω-imidazole alkanoic and alkenoic acid derivatives exhibit the highest potencies as GABA uptake inhibitors at mGAT3.

Azetidine derivatives as novel gamma-aminobutyric acid uptake inhibitors: synthesis, biological evaluation, and structure-activity relationship.

In this study azetidine derivatives representing conformationally constrained GABA or beta-alanine analogs were evaluated for their potency as GABA-uptake inhibitors. The study comprised derivatives substituted in 2- as well as in 3-position with either an acetic acid moiety or a carboxylic acid function. In addition, azetidine derivatives bearing a tetrazole ring as a bioisosteric substitute for a carboxylic acid group were included. 3-Hydroxy-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)azetidine derivatives were explored as analogs of the known GABA-uptake inhibitor NNC-05-2045 exhibiting an azetidine ring instead of a piperidine ring present in the latter. Both, N-unsubstituted compounds as well as their N-alkylated lipophilic derivatives, were biologically evaluated for their affinity to the GAT-1 and GAT-3 transporters. Azetidin-2-ylacetic acid derivatives provided with a 4,4-diphenylbutenyl or 4,4-bis(3-methyl-2-thienyl)butenyl moiety as lipophilic residue were found to exhibit the highest potency at GAT-1 with IC50 values of 2.83+/-0.67 microM and 2.01+/-0.77 microM, respectively. The most potent GAT-3 inhibitor among these compounds appeared to be the beta-alanine analog 1-{2-[tris(4-methoxyphenyl)methoxy]ethyl}azetidine-3-carboxylic acid (12d) displaying an IC50 value of 15.3+/-4.5 microM. Whereas the tetrazole derivatives showed no potency as GABA-uptake inhibitors, the 3-hydroxy-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)azetidine derivatives exhibited moderate affinity to GAT-1 (compound 18b: IC50=26.6+/-3.3 microM) and to GAT-3 (compound 18e: IC50=31.0+/-4.7 microM).