NWChem: Past, present, and future.

Specialized computational chemistry packages have permanently reshaped the landscape of chemical and materials science by providing tools to support and guide experimental efforts and for the prediction of atomistic and electronic properties. In this regard, electronic structure packages have played a special role by using first-principle-driven methodologies to model complex chemical and materials processes. Over the past few decades, the rapid development of computing technologies and the tremendous increase in computational power have offered a unique chance to study complex transformations using sophisticated and predictive many-body techniques that describe correlated behavior of electrons in molecular and condensed phase systems at different levels of theory. In enabling these simulations, novel parallel algorithms have been able to take advantage of computational resources to address the polynomial scaling of electronic structure methods. In this paper, we briefly review the NWChem computational chemistry suite, including its history, design principles, parallel tools, current capabilities, outreach, and outlook.

Use of MGLUR2 and MGLUR3 knockout mice to explore in vivo receptor specificity of the MGLUR2/3 selective antagonist LY341495.

LY341495 is a metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) antagonist showing selectivity to mGluR2/3 but having measurable antagonist efficacy across all mGluR subtypes at 10-1000 fold higher concentrations. In vivo in rodents it increases locomotor activity and wakefulness, enhances cognition and modulates emotions. It also induces widespread neuronal activation measured as c-Fos expression. To further investigate the receptor subtypes through which LY341495 might act in vivo we analyzed how its effects are altered in mGluR2-knockout (KO) and mGluR3-KO brains. In most regions, LY341495 (3 mg/kg, i.p., 2.5 h) -induced c-Fos expression was not altered in either KO brain. However, in mGluR3-KO mice, LY341495 was almost inactive in the central extended amygdala [central nucleus of the amygdala, lateral (CeL) and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, laterodorsal (BSTLD)], suggesting that acute blockade of mGluR3 is activating these neurons in wildtype brain. In the ventrolateral nucleus of the thalamus (VL), LY341495 produced a significantly enhanced response in mGluR3-KO mice and attenuated response in mGluR2-KO mice. We also analyzed locomotion in familiar environment and found that locomotor activity was dose-dependently increased by LY341495 (1-30 mg/kg, i.p.) regardless of the genotype. In unfamiliar environment, both KO strains showed enhanced sensitivity to LY341495 in reducing locomotor habituation. Together our results indicate that certain effects of LY341495 may not be mediated by a blockade of either mGluR2 or mGluR3, but may involve other mGluR subtypes. Alternatively, functions of mGluR2 and mGluR3 may be redundant, resulting similar effects irrespective the receptor subtype being antagonized in vivo by LY341495.

Increased anxiety-related behavior in mice deficient for metabotropic glutamate 8 (mGlu8) receptor.

Pre-synaptic metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors modulate neuronal excitability by controlling glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) release. The mGlu8 receptor is predominantly found in pre-synaptic terminals and its expression is highly restricted. To study the role of this receptor, mGlu8 receptor-deficient mice were generated. Here we report that naïve mGlu8 receptor-deficient mice showed increased anxiety-related behavior in the elevated plus maze in low illumination conditions (red light). Open arm avoidance and risk assessment behavior were both significantly increased in mutant mice. Increased stressfulness of the testing conditions abolished this behavioral difference. Fluorescent light or prior restraint stress decreased the open arm activity of wild-type mice, while the open arm activity of mutant mice was essentially unaffected, leading to similar values in both strains. The total number of arm entries or closed arm entries was not significantly different between strains, indicating that the lack of mGlu8 receptor does not affect locomotor activity. No gross behavioral changes, or changes in the function of the autonomic nervous system or somatomotor systems were observed in mutant mice. Moreover, no significant differences in seizure susceptibility were detected between strains. Our results suggest that mGlu8 receptor may play a role in responses to novel stressful environment.

Thirty-day mortality after elective total hip arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Previous reports on perioperative mortality associated with hip arthroplasty have not documented, to our knowledge, patient characteristics and surgical factors that increase the likelihood of death. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of and associated risk factors for perioperative death after elective hip arthroplasty. METHODS: The records of 30,714 consecutive patients who had undergone elective hip arthroplasty at our institution from 1969 to 1997 were retrospectively reviewed to identify patients who had died within thirty days after the procedure. Mortality rates were determined according to age, gender, diagnosis, implant type, and fixation mode. RESULTS: Ninety deaths occurred within thirty days after elective total hip arthroplasty, for an overall mortality rate of 0.29% (ninety of 30,714). The thirty-day mortality rate was significantly higher for patients with preexisting cardiovascular disease (p < 0.0001), male patients (p < 0.0001), and patients who were seventy years of age or older (p < 0.0002). The mortality rate was slightly, but not significantly, higher for patients with an underlying diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (p < 0.36) and those receiving cemented implants (p < 0.57). There was no difference in the thirty-day mortality rate for revision as compared with primary hip arthroplasty (p < 0.92). CONCLUSIONS: Factors that are associated with an increased risk of mortality within thirty days after elective hip arthroplasty include an older age, male gender, and a history of cardiorespiratory disease. There has been a significant decline in the thirty-day mortality rate after elective hip arthroplasty in the last decade (p < 0.0002); during the 1990s, the overall rate at our institution was 0.15% (twenty-three of 14,989).

Evaluation of the activity of a novel metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonist (+/-)-2-amino-2-(3-cis and trans-carboxycyclobutyl-3-(9-thioxanthyl)propionic acid) in the in vitro neonatal spinal cord and in an in vivo pain model.

The cyclobutylglycine (+/-)-2-amino-2-(3-cis and trans-carboxycyclobutyl-3-(9-thioxanthyl)propionic acid) (LY393053) has been identified as a functionally potent metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonist. It is most potent on the two group I metabotropic glutamate receptors, 1alpha and 5alpha, with IC50 values of 1.0+/-0.4 microM and 1.6+/-1.4 microM, respectively. In this study, LY393053 has also been evaluated electrophysiologically on native group I metabotropic glutamate receptors in an in vitro spinal cord preparation as well as behaviourally, in a mouse model of visceral pain. LY393053 dose-dependently antagonised group I agonist, (RS)-3, 5-dihydroxyphenylglycine, or a broad-spectrum agonist (1S,3R)-amino-1,3-cyclopentanedicarboxylic acid-induced depolarisation of spinal motoneurons. The apparent Kd values were estimated to be 0.3 microM against (RS)-3, 5-dihydroxyphenylglycine-induced depolarisation and 0.5 microM against (1S,3R)-amino-1,3-cyclopentanedicarboxylic acid-induced depolarisation, respectively. On the other hand, the dorsal root-ventral root potential elicited at 8 x threshold was depressed by LY393053 with IC50 values of 9.0+/-0.7 microM and 12.7+/-1.7 microM on monosynaptic and polysynaptic responses, respectively. When investigated using the mouse acetic acid writhing test, LY393053 showed significant analgesic effects at doses of 1-10 mg/kg intraperitoneally. An ED50 value of 6.0 mg/kg was obtained in this test. By revealing a potent effect of LY393053 in antagonising the native group I metabotropic receptor-mediated responses in the spinal cord in rodents, and an antinociceptive efficacy in a mouse visceral pain model, these results, therefore, provide additional evidence in support of the analgesic potential of metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonists.

[3H]-LY341495 as a novel antagonist radioligand for group II metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors: characterization of binding to membranes of mGlu receptor subtype expressing cells.

Metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors are a family of eight known subtypes termed mGlu1-8. Currently, few ligands are available to study the pharmacology of mGlu receptor subtypes. In functional assays, we previously described LY341495 as a highly potent and selective mGlu2 and mGlu3 receptor antagonist. In this study, radiolabeled [3H]-LY341495 was used to investigate the characteristics of receptor binding to membranes from cells expressing human mGlu receptor subtypes. Using membranes from cells expressing human mGlu2 and mGlu3 receptors, [3H]-LY341495 (1 nM) specific binding was > 90% of total binding. At an approximate K(D) concentration for [3H]-LY341495 binding to human mGlu2 and mGlu3 receptors (1 nM), no appreciable specific binding of [3H-]LY341495 was found in membranes of cells expressing human mGlu1a, mGlu5a, mGlu4a, mGlu6, or mGlu7a receptors. However, modest (approximately 20% of mGlu2/3) specific [3H]-LY341495 (1 nM) binding was observed in human mGlu8 expressing cells. [3H]-LY341495 bound to membranes expressing human mGlu2 and mGlu3 receptors in a reversible and saturable manner with relatively high affinities (Bmax 20.5 +/- 5.4 and 32.0 +/- 7.0 pmol/mg protein; and K(D) = 1.67 +/- 0.20 and 0.75 +/- 0.43 nM, respectively). The pharmacology of [3H]-LY341495 binding in mGlu2 and mGlu3 expressing cells was consistent with that previously described for LY341495 in functional assays. [3H]-LY341495 binding provides a useful way to further investigate regulation of receptor expression and pharmacological properties of mGlu2 and mGlu3 receptor subtypes in recombinant systems.

Synthesis, pharmacological characterization, and molecular modeling of heterobicyclic amino acids related to (+)-2-aminobicyclo[3.1.0] hexane-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (LY354740): identification of two new potent, selective, and systemically active agonists for group II metabotropic glutamate receptors.

As part of our ongoing research program aimed at the identification of highly potent, selective, and systemically active agonists for group II metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors, we have prepared novel heterobicyclic amino acids (-)-2-oxa-4-aminobicyclo[3.1. 0]hexane-4,6-dicarboxylate (LY379268, (-)-9) and (-)-2-thia-4-aminobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-4,6-dicarboxylate (LY389795, (-)-10). Compounds (-)-9 and (-)-10 are structurally related to our previously described nanomolar potency group II mGlu receptor agonist, (+)-2-aminobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate monohydrate (LY354740 monohydrate, 5), with the C4-methylene unit of 5 being replaced with either an oxygen atom (as in (-)-9) or a sulfur atom (as in (-)-10). Compounds (-)-9 and (-)-10 potently and stereospecifically displaced specific binding of the mGlu2/3 receptor antagonist ([3H]LY341495) in rat cerebral cortical homogenates, displaying IC50 values of 15 +/- 4 and 8.4 +/- 0.8 nM, respectively, while having no effect up to 100 000 nM on radioligand binding to the glutamate recognition site on NMDA, AMPA, or kainate receptors. Compounds (-)-9 and (-)-10 also potently displaced [3H]LY341495 binding from membranes expressing recombinant human group II mGlu receptor subtypes: (-)-9, Ki = 14.1 +/- 1.4 nM at mGlu2 and 5.8 +/- 0.64 nM at mGlu3; (-)-10, Ki = 40.6 +/- 3.7 nM at mGlu2 and 4.7 +/- 1.2 nM at mGlu3. Evaluation of the functional effects of (-)-9 and (-)-10 on second-messenger responses in nonneuronal cells expressing human mGlu receptor subtypes demonstrated each to be a highly potent agonist for group II mGlu receptors: (-)-9, EC50 = 2.69 +/- 0.26 nM at mGlu2 and 4.58 +/- 0.04 nM at mGlu3; (-)-10, EC50 = 3.91 +/- 0.81 nM at mGlu2 and 7.63 +/- 2. 08 nM at mGlu3. In contrast, neither compound (up to 10 000 nM) displayed either agonist or antagonist activity in cells expressing recombinant human mGlu1a, mGlu5a, mGlu4a, or mGlu7a receptors. The agonist effects of (-)-9 and (-)-10 at group II mGlu receptors were not totally specific, however, as mGlu6 agonist activity was observed at high nanomolar concentrations for (-)-9 (EC50 = 401 +/- 46 nM) and at micromolar concentrations (EC50 = 2 430 +/- 600 nM) for (-)-10; furthermore, each activated mGlu8 receptors at micromolar concentrations (EC50 = 1 690 +/- 130 and 7 340 +/- 2 720 nM, respectively). Intraperitoneal administration of either (-)-9 or (-)-10 in the mouse resulted in a dose-related blockade of limbic seizure activity produced by the nonselective group I/group II mGluR agonist (1S,3R)-ACPD ((-)-9 ED50 = 19 mg/kg, (-)-10 ED50 = 14 mg/kg), indicating that these molecules effectively cross the blood-brain barrier following systemic administration and suppress group I mGluR-mediated limbic excitation. Thus, heterobicyclic amino acids (-)-9 and (-)-10 are novel pharmacological tools useful for exploring the functions of mGlu receptors in vitro and in vivo.

Potent, stereoselective, and brain region selective modulation of second messengers in the rat brain by (+)LY354740, a novel group II metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist.

LY354740 is a highly potent and selective agonist for recombinant Group II mGlu receptors (mGlu2 and mGlu3), which has anxiolytic and drug withdrawal alleviating properties when administered systemically in rats and mice. The modulation of second messengers by LY354740 in rat brain tissues was investigated to understand the cellular basis for the pharmacological and potential therapeutic actions of LY354740. LY354740 potently decreased forskolin-stimulated cAMP formation in slices of the adult rat hippocampus (EC50=22+/-3 nM) in a stereoselective manner. LY354740 (at 1 microM) greatly (>90%) suppressed forskolin-stimulated cAMP in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and striatum, while producing only partial suppression (about 50%) in midbrain regions and olfactory bulb, and no significant cAMP alterations in the cerebellum and brainstem regions. Inhibition of forskolin-stimulated cAMP formation was antagonized by (+)-alpha(-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine [(+)MCPG], a competitive mGlu receptor antagonist. LY354740 did not alter phosphoinositide hydrolysis in the rat hippocampus per se, but potentiated stimulation of phophoinositide hydrolysis by the Group I mGlu receptor selective agonist 3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG) or stimulation of cAMP formation by the adenosine receptor agonist 5'-N-ethylcarboxamideoadenosine (NECA). These data indicate that LY354740 is a highly potent, efficacious, and selective Group II mGlu receptor (mGlu 2/3) agonist in the rat brain. The potent, stereoselective, and brain region selective actions of LY354740 on mGlu receptor linked second messenger systems likely underlie the in vivo potency and stereoselectivity of this compound in animal models.

LY341495 is a nanomolar potent and selective antagonist of group II metabotropic glutamate receptors.

The in vitro pharmacology of a structurally novel compound, LY341495, was investigated at human recombinant metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptor subtypes expressed in non-neuronal (RGT, rat glutamate transporter) cells. LY341495 was a nanomolar potent antagonist of 1S,3R-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (ACPD)-induced inhibition of forskolin-stimulated cAMP formation at mGlu2 and mGlu3 receptors (respective IC50S of 0.021 and 0.014 microM). At group I mGlu receptor expressing cells, LY341495 was micromolar potent in antagonizing quisqualate-induced phosphoinositide (PI) hydrolysis, with IC50 values of 7.8 and 8.2 microM for mGlu1a and mGlu5a receptors, respectively. Among the human group III mGlu receptors, the most potent inhibition of L-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid (L-AP4) responses was seen for LY341495 at mGlu8, with an IC50 of 0.17 microM. LY341495 was less potent at mGlu7 (IC50 = 0.99 microM) and least potent at mGlu4 (IC50 = 22 microM). Binding studies in rat brain membranes also demonstrated nanomolar potent group II mGlu receptor affinity for LY341495, with no appreciable displacement of ionotropic glutamate receptor ligand binding. Thus, LY341495 has a unique range of selectivity across the mGlu receptor subtypes with a potency order of mGlu3 > or = mGlu2 > mGlu8 > mGlu7 >> mGlu1a = mGlu5a > mGlu4. In particular, LY341495 is the most potent antagonist yet reported at mGlu2, 3 and 8 receptors. Thus, it represents a novel pharmacological agent for elucidating the function of mGlu receptors in experimental systems.

Group III human metabotropic glutamate receptors 4, 7 and 8: molecular cloning, functional expression, and comparison of pharmacological properties in RGT cells.

Cloning and expression in a stable mammalian cell line co-transfected with a glutamate transporter (RGT cells) were used as tools for studying the functions and pharmacological properties of group III metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs). Complementary DNAs (cDNAs) encoding the human mGluR4, human mGluR7, and human mGluR8 were isolated from human cerebellum, fetal brain or retinal cDNA libraries. The human mGluR4, mGluR7 and mGluR8 receptors were 912, 915 and 908 amino acid residues long and share 67-70% amino acid similarity with each other and 42-45% similarity with the members of mGluR subgroups I and II. The human mGluR4 and mGluR7 had amino acid identity of 96% and 99.5% with rat mGluR4 and 7, respectively, whereas the human mGluR8 has 98.8% amino acid identity with the mouse mGluR8. The nucleotide and amino acid sequences in the coding region of human mGluR4 and mGluR7 were found to be identical to the previously published sequences by Flor et al. and Makoff et al. Following stable expression in RGT cells, highly significant inhibitions of forskolin stimulation of cAMP production by group III agonists were found for each receptor. The relative potencies of the group III agonist L-AP4 varied greatly between the group III clones, being mGluR8>mGluR4 >> mGluR7. The reported group II mGluR agonist L-CCG-I was a highly potent mGluR8 agonist (EC50=0.35 microM), with significant agonist activities at both mGluR4 (EC50=3.7 microM) and mGluR7 (EC50=47 microM). The antagonist potency of the purported group III mGluR antagonist MPPG also varied among the receptors being human mGluR8 >> mGluR4 = mGluR7. The expression and second messenger coupling of human group III mGluRs expressed in the RGT cell line are useful to clearly define the subtype selectivities of mGluR ligands.

2-Substituted (2SR)-2-amino-2-((1SR,2SR)-2-carboxycycloprop-1-yl)glycines as potent and selective antagonists of group II metabotropic glutamate receptors. 1. Effects of alkyl, arylalkyl, and diarylalkyl substitution.

In this paper, we describe the synthesis of a series of alpha-substituted analogues of the potent and selective group II metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) agonist (1S,1'S,2'S)-carboxycyclopropylglycine (2, L-CCG 1). Incorporation of a substituent on the amino acid carbon converted the agonist 2 into an antagonist. All of the compounds were prepared and tested as a series of four isomers, i.e., two racemic diastereomers. We explored alkyl substitution, both normal and terminally branched; phenylalkyl and diphenylalkyl substitution; and a variety of aromatic and carbocyclic surrogates for phenyl. Affinity for group II mGluRs was measured using [3H]glutamic acid (Glu) binding in rat forebrain membranes. Antagonist activity was confirmed for these compounds by measuring their ability to antagonize (1S,3R)-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid-induced inhibition of forskolin-stimulated cyclic-AMP in RGT cells transfected with human mGluR2 and mGluR3. We found that while alkyl substitution provided no increase in affinity relative to 2, phenylethyl and diphenylethyl substitution, as in 105 and 109, respectively, were quite beneficial. The affinity of 109 was further enhanced when the two aromatic rings were joined by an oxygen or sulfur atom to form the tricyclic xanthylmethyl and thioxanthylmethyl amino acids 113 and 114, respectively. Amino acid 113, with an IC50 of 0.010 microM in the [3H]Glu binding assay, was 52-fold more potent than 2, whose IC50 was 0.47 microM.

2-substituted (2SR)-2-amino-2-((1SR,2SR)-2-carboxycycloprop-1-yl)glycines as potent and selective antagonists of group II metabotropic glutamate receptors. 2. Effects of aromatic substitution, pharmacological characterization, and bioavailability.

In this paper we describe the synthesis of a series of alpha-substituted analogues of the potent and selective group II metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) agonist (1S,1'S,2'S)-carboxycyclopropylglycine (2, L-CCG 1). Incorporation of a substitutent on the amino acid carbon converted the agonist 2 into an antagonist. All of the compounds were prepared and tested as a series of four isomers, i.e., two racemic diastereomers. On the basis of the improvement in affinity realized for the alpha-phenylethyl analogue 3, in this paper we explored the effects of substitution on the aromatic ring as a strategy to increase the affinity to these compounds for group II mGluRs. Affinity for group II mGluRs was measured using [3H]glutamic acid (Glu) binding in rat forebrain membranes. Antagonist activity was confirmed for these compounds by measuring their ability to antagonize (1S,3R)-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid-induced inhibition of forskolin stimulated cyclic-AMP in RGT cells transfected with human mGluR2 and mGluR3. Meta substitution on the aromatic ring of 3 with a variety of substituents, both electron donating (e.g., methyl, hydroxy, amino, methoxy, phenyl, phenoxy) and electron withdrawing (e.g., fluorine, chlorine, bromine, carboxy, trifluoromethyl) gave from 1.5- to 4.5-fold increases in affinity. Substitution with p-fluorine, as in 97 (IC50 = 0.022 +/- 0.002), was the exception. Here, a greater increase in affinity was realized than for either the ortho- or meta-substituted analogues; 97 was the most potent compound resulting from monosubstitution of the aromatic. At best, only modest increases in affinity were realized for certain compounds bearing either two chlorines or two fluorines, and two methoxy groups gave no improvement in affinity (all examined in a variety of substitution patterns). Three amino acids, 4, 5, and 104, were resolved into their four constituent isomers, and affinity and functional activity for group II mGluRs was found to reside solely in the S,S,S-isomers of each, consistent with 1. With an IC50 = 2.9 +/- 0.6 nM, the resolved xanthylmethyl compound 168 was the most potent compound from this SAR. Amino acid 168 demonstrated high plasma levels following intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration and readily penetrated into the brain. This compound, however, had only limited (approximately 5%) oral bioavailability. Systemic administration of 168 protected mice from limbic seizures produced by the mGluR agonist 3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine, with an ED50 = 31 mg/kg (i.p., 60 min preinjection). Thus, 168 represents a valuable tool to study the role of group II mGluRs in disease.

Synthesis and metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonist activity of N1-substituted analogs of 2R,4R-4-aminopyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylic acid.

A series of N1-substituted derivatives of (2R,4R)-4-aminopyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylate (2R,4R-APDC) has been prepared as constrained analogs of gamma-substituted glutamic acids and examined for their effects at recombinant metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) subtypes in vitro. Appropriate substitution of the N1 position of 2R,4R-APDC resulted in the identification of a number of selective group II mGluR antagonists.

2,3'-disubstituted-2-(2'-carboxycyclopropyl)glycines as potent and selective antagonists of metabotropic glutamate receptors.

2-(9-Xanthylmethyl)-2-(2'-carboxycyclopropyl) glycine 6e is a novel metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonist. A series of alpha, C-3' disubstituted (carboxycyclopropyl)glycines 6f-n were prepared. Antagonist activity was observed for all these compounds at group 2 and group 3 mGluRs. Although they were slightly less active on group 2 mGluRs than non C-3' substituted 6e, the compounds 6f-n were more selective with lesser or no activity on group 1 mGluR subtypes (IC50 values greater than 100 microns).

(2S,4S)-amino-4-(2,2-diphenylethyl)pentanedioic acid selective group 2 metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonist.

(2S,4S)-2-Amino-4-(4,4-diphenylbut-1-yl)-pentane-1,5-dioic acid 1m, is a novel metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) antagonist with insignificant ionotropic affinity. It is selective antagonist of negatively-coupled cAMP-linked mGluRs with no effect on phosphoinositide coupled mGluRs. A series of 4-substituted glutamic acid analogues were prepared and it was found that compound 1k is tenfold more potent than 1m. Compound 1k has neither significant affinity for ionotropic glutamate receptors nor group 1 and 3 metabotropic receptors.

Design, synthesis, and pharmacological characterization of (+)-2-aminobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (LY354740): a potent, selective, and orally active group 2 metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist possessing anticonvulsant and anxiolytic properties.

2-Aminobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (9) was designed as a conformationally constrained analog of glutamic acid. For 9, the key torsion angles (tau 1 and tau 2) which determine the relative positions of the alpha-amino acid and distal carboxyl functionalities are constrained where tau 1 = 166.9 degrees or 202 degrees and tau 2 = 156 degrees, respectively. We hypothesized that 9 would closely approximate the proposed bioactive conformation of glutamate when acting at group 2 metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs). The racemic target molecule (+/-)-9, its C2-diastereomer (+/-)-16, and its enantiomers (+)-9 (LY354740) and (-)-9 (LY366563) were prepared by an efficient, stereocontrolled, and high-yielding synthesis from 2-cyclopentenone. Our hypothesis that 9 could interact with high affinity and specificity at group 2 mGluRs has been supported by the observation that (+/-)-9 (EC50 = 0.086 +/- 0.025 microM) and its enantiomer (+)-9 (EC50 = 0.055 +/- 0.017 microM) are highly potent agonists for group 2 mGluRs in the rat cerebral cortical slice preparation (suppression of forskolin-stimulated cAMP formation) possessing no activity at other glutamate receptor sites (iGluR or group 1 mGluR) at concentrations up to 100 microM. Importantly, the mGluR agonist effects of (+)-9 are evident following oral administration in mice in both the elevated plus maze model of anxiety (ED50 = 0.5 mg/kg) and in the ACPD-induced limbic seizure model (ED50 = 45.6 mg/kg). Thus, (+)-9 is the first orally active group 2 mGluR agonist described thus far and is an important tool for studying the effects of compounds of this class in humans.

LY354740 is a potent and highly selective group II metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist in cells expressing human glutamate receptors.

The novel compound LY354740 is a conformationally constrained analog of glutamate, which was designed for interaction at metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors. In this paper the selectivity of LY354740 for recombinant human mGlu receptor subtypes expressed in non-neuronal (RGT) cells is described. At human mGlu2 receptors, LY354740 produced > 90% suppression of forskolin-stimulated cAMP formation with an EC50 of 5.1 +/- 0.3 nM. LY354740 was six-fold less potent in activating human mGlu3 receptors (EC50 = 24.3 +/- 0.5 nM). LY354740 inhibition of forskolin-stimulated cAMP formation in human mGlu2 receptor-expressing cells was blocked by competitive mGlu receptor antagonists, including (+)-alpha-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine (MCPG) and LY307452 ((2S,4S)-2-amino-4-(4,4-diphenylbut-1-yl)-pentane-1,5-dioic acid). LY354740 had no agonist or antagonist activities at cells expressing human mGlu4 or mGlu7 (group III mGlu receptors) (EC50 > 100,000 nM). When tested at group I phosphoinositide-coupled human mGlu receptors (mGlu1a and mGlu5a), LY354740 did not activate or inhibit mGlu receptor agonist-evoked phosphoinositide hydrolysis at up to 100,000 nM. Electrophysiological experiments also demonstrated that LY354740 also had no appreciable activity in cells expressing human recombinant AMPA (GluR4) and kainate (GluR6) receptors. Thus, LY354740 is a highly potent, efficacious and selective group II (mGlu2/3) receptor agonist, useful to explore the functions of these receptors in situ.

Synthesis of the four isomers of 4-aminopyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylate: identification of a potent, highly selective, and systemically-active agonist for metabotropic glutamate receptors negatively coupled to adenylate cyclase.

The four isomers of 4-aminopyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylate (APDC) were prepared and evaluated for their effects at glutamate receptors in vitro. (2R,4R)-APDC (2a), an aza analog of the nonselective mGluR agonist (1S,3R)-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylate (1S,3R)-ACPD, 1), was found to possess relatively high affinity for metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) (ACPD-sensitive [3H]glutamate binding IC50 = 6.49 +/- 1.21 microM) with no effects on radioligand binding to NMDA, AMPA, or kainate receptors up to 100 microM. None of the other APDC isomers showed significant mGluR binding affinity, indicating that this interaction is highly stereospecific. Both 1 and 2a were effective in decreasing forskolin-stimulated cAMP formation in the adult rat cerebral cortex (EC50 = 8.17 +/- 2.21 microM for 1; EC50 = 14.51 +/- 5.54 microM for 2a); however, while 1 was also effective in stimulating basal tritiated inositol monophosphate production in the neonatal rat cerebral cortex (EC50 = 27.7 +/- 5.2 microM), 2a (up to 100 microM) was ineffective in stimulating phosphoinositide hydrolysis in this tissue preparation, further supporting our previous observations that 2a is a highly selective agonist for mGluRs negatively coupled to adenylate cyclase. Microelectrophoretic application of either 1 or 2a to intact rat spinal neurons produced an augmentation of AMPA-induced excitation (95 +/- 10% increase for 1, 52 +/- 6% increase for 2a). Intracerebral injection of 1 (400 nmol) produced characteristic limbic seizures in mice which are not mimicked by 2a (200-1600 nmol, ic). However, the limbic seizures induced by 1 were blocked by systemically administered 2a in a dose-dependent manner (EC50 = 271 mg/kg, ip). It is concluded that (2R,4R)-APDC (2a) is a highly selective, systemically-active agonist of mGluRs negatively coupled to adenylate cyclase and that selective activation of these receptors in vivo can result in anticonvulsant effects.

(1 S,3 R)-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid-induced increases in cyclic AMP formation in the neonatal rat hippocampus are mediated by a synergistic interaction between phosphoinositide- and inhibitory cyclic AMP-coupled mGluRs.

A pharmacological approach was used to investigate the cellular mechanism and metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) subtypes that mediate stimulation of basal cyclic AMP (cAMP) formation in slices of the neonatal rat hippocampus. (1S,3 R)-1-Aminocyclopentane-1, 3-dicarboxylic acid (1S,3R-ACPD), which is an agonist for phosphoinositide-coupled and inhibitory-coupled cAMP-linked mGluRs in cloned and in situ preparations, produced prominent stimulations of basal cAMP levels (five- to 10-fold). However, the agonists 3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG) and (2R,4R)-4-aminopyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylate (2R,4R-APDC), which selectively act on phosphoinositide-coupled and inhibitory cAMP-coupled mGluRs, respectively, only weakly increased cAMP levels. When these two mGluR subtype-selective agonists were added in combination, robust increases in cAMP levels, similar to those observed for 1S,3R-ACPD, were found. Stimulations of cAMP content evoked by 1S,3R-ACPD and combined additions of DHPG plus 2R,4R-APDC occurred at concentrations of these agents that directly couple to other mGluR second messenger responses. However, these stimulatory cAMP responses were prevented by the presence of adenosine deaminase and 8-p-sulfophenyltheophylline (an adenosine receptor antagonist), as well as (+)-alpha-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine (an mGluR receptor antagonist). Thus, 1S,3R-ACPD-induced increases in cAMP formation in the neonatal rat hippocampus are mediated by a synergistic interaction between mGluRs coupled to phosphoinositide (group 1) and inhibitory cAMP (group 2), which are indirectly expressed by potentiation of cAMP responses to other agonists (in this case, endogenous adenosine).