Probing the orthosteric binding site of GABAA receptors with heterocyclic GABA carboxylic acid bioisosteres.

The ionotropic GABAA receptors (GABAARs) are widely distributed in the central nervous system where they play essential roles in numerous physiological and pathological processes. A high degree of structural heterogeneity of the GABAAR has been revealed and extensive effort has been made to develop selective and potent GABAAR agonists. This review investigates the use of heterocyclic carboxylic acid bioisosteres within the GABAAR area. Several heterocycles including 3-hydroxyisoxazole, 3-hydroxyisoxazoline, 3-hydroxyisothiazole, and the 1- and 3-hydroxypyrazole rings have been employed in order to map the orthosteric binding site. The physicochemical properties of the heterocyclic moieties making them suitable for bioisosteric replacement of the carboxylic acid in the molecule of GABA are discussed. A variety of synthetic strategies for synthesis of the heterocyclic scaffolds are available. Likewise, methods for introduction of substituents into specific positions of the heterocyclic scaffolds facilitate the investigation of different regions in the orthosteric binding pocket in close vicinity of the core scaffolds of muscimol/GABA. The development of structural models, from pharmacophore models to receptor homology models, has provided more insight into the molecular basis for binding. Similar binding modes are proposed for the heterocyclic GABA analogues covered in this review by use of ligand-receptor docking into the receptor homology model and the presented structure-activity relationships. A network of interactions between the analogues and the binding pocket is leaving no room for substituents and underline the limited space in the GABAAR orthosteric binding site when in the agonist conformation.

Pharmacological identification of a guanidine-containing ß-alanine analogue with low micromolar potency and selectivity for the betaine/GABA transporter 1 (BGT1).

The γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transporters (GATs) are key membrane transporter proteins involved in the termination of GABAergic signaling at synapses in the mammalian brain and proposed drug targets in neurological disorders such as epilepsy. To date, four different GAT subtypes have been identified: GAT1, GAT2, GAT3 and the betaine/GABA transporter 1 (BGT1). Owing to the lack of potent and subtype selective inhibitors of the non-GAT1 GABA transporters, the physiological role and therapeutic potential of these transporters remain to be fully understood. Based on bioisosteric replacement of the amino group in ß-alanine or GABA, a series of compounds was generated, and their pharmacological activity assessed at human GAT subtypes. Using a cell-based [(3)H]GABA uptake assay, several selective inhibitors at human BGT1 were identified. The guanidine-containing compound 9 (2-amino-1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carboxylic acid hydrochloride) displayed more than 250 times greater potency than the parent compound ß-alanine at BGT1 and is thus the most potent inhibitor reported to date for this subtype (IC50 value of 2.5 µM). In addition, compound 9 displayed about 400, 16 and 40 times lower inhibitory potency at GAT1, GAT2 and GAT3, respectively. Compound 9 was shown to be a substrate for BGT1 and to have an overall similar pharmacological profile at the mouse orthologue. Compound 9 constitutes an interesting pharmacological tool for specifically investigating the cellular pharmacology of BGT1 and is the first small-molecule substrate identified with such a high selectivity for BGT1 over the three other GAT subtypes.

Exploration of the molecular architecture of the orthosteric binding site in the α4ß2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor with analogs of 3-(dimethylamino)butyl dimethylcarbamate (DMABC) and 1-(pyridin-3-yl)-1,4-diazepane.

X-ray crystal structures of acetylcholine binding proteins (AChBPs) have revealed two different possible extensions to the classical ligand binding pocket known to accommodate various nicotinic agonists. One of the pockets is limited in size while the other is of considerable dimensions and protrudes along the interfacial cleft between subunits. To probe these putative extensions in functional nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), elongated analogs of 3-(dimethylamino)butyl dimethylcarbamate (DMABC) and 1-(pyridine-3-yl)-1,4-diazepane were prepared and characterized pharmacologically at neuronal heteromeric nAChRs. Although the new analogs, relative to parent compounds, displayed lower binding affinities, functional characterization of selected compounds revealed that they had retained partial α4ß2 nAChR agonist activity. The structure-activity relationship data did not indicate an upper limit to the size of substituents as would have been expected if the ligand was bound in the smaller pocket. The data were better in agreement with a binding mode in which substituents protrude along the interfacial cleft of the receptor. This was further supported by docking into a homology model of the α4-ß2 nAChR interface and by surface plasmon resonance biosensor analysis of binding of the compounds to acetylcholine-binding proteins, where they exhibit preference for Lymnaea stagnalis ACh binding protein (Ls-AChBP) over the Aplysia california ACh binding protein (Ac-AChBP). These results suggest new opportunities for expanding chemical space in the development of partial agonist and may be of interest in relation to development of novel smoking cessation aids.

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of 6-aminonicotinic acid analogues as novel GABA(A) receptor agonists.

A series of 6-aminonicotinic acid analogues have been synthesized and pharmacologically characterized at native and selected recombinant GABA(A) receptors. 6-Aminonicotinic acid (3) as well as 2- and 4-alkylated analogues (9-11, 14-16) display low to mid-micromolar GABA(A)R binding affinities to native GABA(A) receptors (K(i) 1.1-24 µM). The tetrahydropyridine analogue of 3 (22) shows low-nanomolar affinity (K(i) 0.044 µM) and equipotency as an agonist to GABA itself as well as the standard GABA(A) agonist isoguvacine. Cavities surrounding the core of the GABA binding pocket were predicted by molecular interaction field calculations and docking studies in a α1ß2γ2 GABA(A) receptor homology model, and were confirmed by affinities of substituted analogues of 3. The tight steric requirements observed for the remarkably few GABA(A)R agonists reported to date is challenged by our findings. New openings for agonist design are proposed which potentially could facilitate the exploration of different pharmacological profiles within the GABA(A)R area.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 4-(aminomethyl)-1-hydroxypyrazole analogues of muscimol as γ-aminobutyric acid(a) receptor agonists.

A series of bioisosteric 4-(aminomethyl)-1-hydroxypyrazole (4-AHP) analogues of muscimol, a GABA(A) receptor agonist, has been synthesized and pharmacologically characterized at native and selected recombinant GABA(A) receptors. The unsubstituted 4-AHP analogue (2a) (EC(50) 19 µM, R(max) 69%) was a moderately potent agonist at human α(1)ß(2)γ(2) GABA(A) receptors, and in SAR studies substitutions in the 3- and/or 5-position were found to be detrimental to binding affinities. Ligand-receptor docking in an α(1)ß(2)γ(2) GABA(A) receptor homology model along with the obtained SAR indicate that 2a and muscimol share a common binding mode, which deviates from the binding mode of the structurally related antagonist series based on 4-(piperidin-4-yl)-1-hydroxypyrazole (4-PHP, 1). Selectivity for α(1)ß(2)γ(2) over ρ(1) GABA(A) receptors was observed for the 5-chloro, 5-bromo, and 5-methyl substituted analogues of 2a illustrating that even small differences in structure can give rise to subtype selectivity.

Synthesis, pharmacology, and biostructural characterization of novel α4ß2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists.

In our search for selective agonists for the α(4)ß(2) subtype of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), we have synthesized and characterized a series of novel heterocyclic analogues of 3-(dimethylamino)butyl dimethylcarbamate (DMABC, 4). All new heterocyclic analogues, especially N,N-dimethyl-4-(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-yloxy)butan-2-amine (7), showed an improved binding selectivity profile in favor of α(4)ß(2) over other nAChR subtypes, primarily due to impaired binding at ß(4) containing receptors. This observation can be rationalized based on cocrystal structures of (R)-4 and (R)-7 bound to acetylcholine binding protein from Lymnaea stagnalis. Functional characterization at both (α(4))(2)(ß(2))(3) and (α(4))(3)(ß(2))(2) receptors using two-electrode voltage clamp techniques in Xenopus laevis oocytes indicates that the investigated compounds interact differently with the two receptor stoichiometries. Compound 7 is an efficacious agonist at both α(4)-ß(2) and α(4)-α(4) binding sites, while the close analogue N,N-dimethyl-4-(1,4-dimethyl-1H-imidazol-2-yloxy)butan-2-amine (9) primarily activates via α(4)-ß(2) binding sites. The results suggest that it may be possible to rationally design compounds with specific stoichiometry preferences.

Direct chemical glycosylation with pentenyl- and thioglycoside donors of N-acetylglucosamine.

The use of pentenyl and thiophenyl glycosides of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) as glycosyl donors for the direct preparation of O-glycosides of GlcNAc promoted by N-iodosuccinimide (NIS) and metal triflates in dichloromethane has been investigated. Both glycosyl acceptors 1-octanol and (-)-menthol resulted in good glycosylation yields for both types of donors with pentenyl glycosides being somewhat superior in terms of yield. Carbohydrate-based acceptors were reacted with a benzylated GlcNAc-pentenyl donor but only provided disaccharides in poor to moderate yields. The results show that a variety of metal triflates are capable of acting as an activator for both NIS and the intermediate oxazoline.