Mapping the catechol binding site in dopamine D₁ receptors: synthesis and evaluation of two parallel series of bicyclic dopamine analogues

Research progress in biological activities of isochroman derivatives

Isochromans are well recognized heterocyclic compounds in drug discovery which produce diverse therapeutically related applications in pharmacological practices. Medicinal chemistry investigators have synthesized drug-like isochroman candidates with multiple medicinal features including central nervous system (CNS), antioxidant, antimicrobial, antihypertensive, antitumor and anti-inflammatory agents. Simultaneously, SAR (Structure-Activity Relationship) analysis has drawn attentions among medicinal chemists, along with a great deal of derivatives have been derived for potential targets. In this article, we thoroughly summarize the biological activities and part of typical SAR for isochroman derivatives reported on existing literatures and patents, wishing to provide an overall retrospect and prospect on the isochroman analogues.

Advances in Dopamine D1 Receptor Ligands for Neurotherapeutics

The dopamine D1 receptor (D1R) is essential for neurotransmission in various brain pathways where it modulates key functions including voluntary movement, memory, attention and reward. Not surprisingly, the D1R has been validated as a promising drug target for over 40 years and selective activation of this receptor may provide novel neurotherapeutics for neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. Several pharmacokinetic challenges with previously identified small molecule D1R agonists have been recently overcome with the discovery and advancement of new ligands, including drug-like non-catechol D1R agonists and positive allosteric modulators. From this, several novel molecules and mechanisms have recently entered clinical studies. Here we review the major classes of D1R selective ligands including antagonists, orthosteric agonists, non-catechol biased agonists and positive allosteric modulators, highlighting their structure-activity relationships and medicinal chemistry. Recent chemistry breakthroughs and innovative approaches to selectively target and activate the D1R also hold promise for creating pharmacotherapy for several neurological diseases.

Unusually Reactive Cyclic Anhydride Expands the Scope of the Castagnoli-Cushman Reaction

In the course of synthesizing and testing various "azole-including" cyclic anhydrides in the Castagnoli-Cushman reaction with imines, a remarkably reactive, pyrrole-based anhydride has been identified. It displayed a remarkably efficient reaction with N-alkyl and N-aryl imines, in particular, with "enolizable" α-C-H imines which typically fail to react with a majority of known cyclic anhydrides. The reactivity of this anhydride has been justified by an efficient resonance stabilization of its enol form. This finding expands the existing arsenal of highly reactive cyclic anhydrides and further confirms the importance of anhydride enolization for an efficient Castagnoli-Cushman reaction.

Impaired β-arrestin recruitment and reduced desensitization by non-catechol agonists of the D1 dopamine receptor

Selective activation of dopamine D1 receptors (D1Rs) has been pursued for 40 years as a therapeutic strategy for neurologic and psychiatric diseases due to the fundamental role of D1Rs in motor function, reward processing, and cognition. All known D1R-selective agonists are catechols, which are rapidly metabolized and desensitize the D1R after prolonged exposure, reducing agonist response. As such, drug-like selective D1R agonists have remained elusive. Here we report a novel series of selective, potent non-catechol D1R agonists with promising in vivo pharmacokinetic properties. These ligands stimulate adenylyl cyclase signaling and are efficacious in a rodent model of Parkinson's disease after oral administration. They exhibit distinct binding to the D1R orthosteric site and a novel functional profile including minimal receptor desensitization, reduced recruitment of β-arrestin, and sustained in vivo efficacy. These results reveal a novel class of D1 agonists with favorable drug-like properties, and define the molecular basis for catechol-specific recruitment of β-arrestin to D1Rs.

Challenges and trends in apomorphine drug delivery systems for the treatment of Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic debilitating disease affecting approximately 1% of the population over the age of 60. The severity of PD is correlated to the degree of dopaminergic neuronal loss. Apomorphine has a similar chemical structure as the neurotransmitter dopamine and has been used for the treatment of advanced PD patients. In PD patients, apomorphine is normally administered subcutaneously with frequent injections because of the compound's extensive hepatic first-pass metabolism. There is, hence, a large unmet need for alternative administrative routes for apomorphine to improve patient compliance. The present review focuses on the research and development of alternative delivery of apomorphine, aiming to highlight the potential of non-invasive apomorphine therapy in PD, such as sublingual delivery and transdermal delivery.

Functional roles of T3.37 and S5.46 in the activation mechanism of the dopamine D1 receptor

The activation mechanism of dopamine receptors is unknown. The amino acids S5.42, S5.43, and S5.46 located in helix 5 appear to be crucial, but their specific roles in receptor activation have not been studied. We modeled the D1 dopamine receptor using the crystal structures of the D3 dopamine and β2 adrenergic receptors. Molecular dynamics simulations show that the interaction of dopamine with the D1 receptor leads to the formation of a hydrogen-bond network with its catechol group and helices 3, 5, and 6, including water molecules. The para hydroxyl group of dopamine binds directly to S5.42 and N6.55, the latter also interacting with S5.43. Unexpectedly, S5.46 does not interact directly with the catechol; instead, it interacts through a water molecule with S5.42 and directly with T3.37. The formation of this hydrogen-bond network, part of which was previously observed in docking studies with dopamine agonists, triggers the opening of the E6.30-R3.60 ionic lock associated with the activation of GPCRs. These changes do not occur in the unbonded (apo) receptor or when it is in a complex with the antagonist 3-methoxy-5,6,7,8,9,14-hexahydrodibenz[d,g]azecine. Our results provide valuable insight into the T3.37-S5.46-water-S5.43-ligand interaction, which may be crucial to the activation of the D1 dopamine receptor and should be considered during the design of novel agonists. Graphical Abstract General representation of the relationship between the formation of the HBN and the opening of the R3.50-E6.30 ionic lock.

Insights into the structural biology of G-protein coupled receptors impacts drug design for central nervous system neurodegenerative processes

In the last few years, there have been important new insights into the structural biology of G-protein coupled receptors. It is now known that allosteric binding sites are involved in the affinity and selectivity of ligands for G-protein coupled receptors, and that signaling by these receptors involves both G-protein dependent and independent pathways. The present review outlines the physiological and pharmacological implications of this perspective for the design of new drugs to treat disorders of the central nervous system. Specifically, new possibilities are explored in relation to allosteric and orthosteric binding sites on dopamine receptors for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, and on muscarinic receptors for Alzheimer's disease. Future research can seek to identify ligands that can bind to more than one site on the same receptor, or simultaneously bind to two receptors and form a dimer. For example, the design of bivalent drugs that can reach homo/hetero-dimers of D2 dopamine receptor holds promise as a relevant therapeutic strategy for Parkinson's disease. Regarding the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, the design of dualsteric ligands for mono-oligomeric rinic receptors could increase therapeutic effectiveness by generating potent compounds that could activate more than one signaling pathway.

Extensive rigid analogue design maps the binding conformation of potent N-benzylphenethylamine 5-HT2A serotonin receptor agonist ligands

Based on the structure of the superpotent 5-HT(2A) agonist 2-(4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-[(2-methoxyphenyl)methyl]ethanamine, which consists of a ring-substituted phenethylamine skeleton modified with an N-benzyl group, we designed and synthesized a small library of constrained analogues to identify the optimal arrangement of the pharmacophoric elements of the ligand. Structures consisted of diversely substituted tetrahydroisoquinolines, piperidines, and one benzazepine. Based on the structure of (S,S)-9b, which showed the highest affinity of the series, we propose an optimal binding conformation. (S,S)-9b also displayed 124-fold selectivity for the 5-HT(2A) over the 5-HT(2C) receptor, making it the most selective 5-HT(2A) receptor agonist ligand currently known.

Catalytic, enantio- and diastereoselective synthesis of γ-butyrolactones incorporating quaternary stereocentres

A new, highly enantio- and diastereoselective catalytic asymmetric formal cycloaddition of aryl succinic anhydrides and aldehydes which generates paraconic acid (γ-butyrolactone) derivatives is reported.

Parallel synthesis of 2-substituted 6-(5-oxo-1-phenylpyrrolidin-3-yl)pyrimidine-5-carboxamides

A library of 24 6-(5-oxo-1-phenylpyrrolidin-3-yl)pyrimidine-5-carboxamides 10{1,2; 1-12} was prepared by a parallel solution-phase approach. The synthesis comprises a five-step transformation of itaconic acid (11) into 1-methyl and 1-phenyl substituted 6-(5-oxo-1-phenylpyrrolidin-3-yl)pyrimidine-5-carboxylic acids 17{1,2} followed by parallel amidation of 17{1,2} with a series of 12 aliphatic amines 18{1-12} to afford the corresponding carboxamides 10 in good overall yields and in 80-100% purity.

Ligand-specific roles for transmembrane 5 serine residues in the binding and efficacy of dopamine D(1) receptor catechol agonists

To refine further the structure-activity relationships of D(1) dopamine receptor agonists, we investigated the roles of three conserved serine residues [Ser198(5.42), Ser199(5.43), and Ser202(5.46)] in agonist binding and receptor activation. These transmembrane domain 5 (TM5) residues are believed to engage catechol ligands through polar interactions. We stably expressed wild-type or mutant (S198A, S199A, and S202A) D(1) receptors in human embryonic kidney cells. These receptors were expressed at similar levels (approximately 2000 fmol/mg) and bound the radioligand [(3)H]R(+)-7-chloro-8-hydroxy-3-methyl-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine (SCH 23390), although S198A and S199A displayed significant losses of affinity compared with that for wild-type receptors. The endogenous agonist, dopamine, had losses of potency at each of the mutant receptors. We tested cyclohexyl-substituted isochroman, carbocyclic, and chroman bicyclic dopamine analogs and found that the mutations affected the chroman to a lesser extent than the other compounds. These results support our hypothesis that the decreased D(1) activity of chroman analogs results from a ligand intramolecular hydrogen bond that impairs the ability of the catechol to engage the receptor. Sensitivities of these rigid catechol agonists to the effects of the serine mutations were dependent on ligand geometry, particularly with respect to the rotameric conformation of the ethylamine side chain and the distance between the amino group and each catechol hydroxyl. Functional experiments in striatal tissue suggest that the ability to engage TM5 serines is largely correlated with agonist efficacy for cAMP stimulation. These results provide a new understanding of the complexities of D(1) ligand recognition and agonist activation and have implications for the design of rigid catechol ligands.

Analogues of doxanthrine reveal differences between the dopamine D1 receptor binding properties of chromanoisoquinolines and hexahydrobenzo[a]phenanthridines

Efforts to develop selective agonists for dopamine D(1)-like receptors led to the discovery of dihydrexidine and doxanthrine, two bioisosteric β-phenyldopamine-type full agonist ligands that display selectivity and potency at D(1)-like receptors. We report herein an improved methodology for the synthesis of substituted chromanoisoquinolines (doxanthrine derivatives) and the evaluation of several new compounds for their ability to bind to D(1)- and D(2)-like receptors. Identical pendant phenyl ring substitutions on the dihydrexidine and doxanthrine templates surprisingly led to different effects on D(1)-like receptor binding, suggesting important differences between the interactions of these ligands with the D(1) receptor. We propose, based on the biological results and molecular modeling studies, that slight conformational differences between the tetralin and chroman-based compounds lead to a shift in the location of the pendant ring substituents within the receptor.

Probing the steric space at the floor of the D1 dopamine receptor orthosteric binding domain: 7α-, 7β-, 8α-, and 8β-methyl substituted dihydrexidine analogues

To probe the space at the floor of the orthosteric ligand binding site in the dopamine D(1) receptor, four methylated analogues of dihydrexidine (DHX) were synthesized with substitutions at the 7 and 8 positions. The 8α-axial, 8β-equatorial, and 7α-equatorial were synthesized by photochemical cyclization of appropriately substituted N-benzoyl enamines, and the 7β-axial analogue was prepared by an intramolecular Henry reaction. All of the methylated analogues displayed losses in affinity when compared to DHX (20 nM): 8β-Me(ax)-DHX (270 nM), 8α-Me(eq)-DHX (920 nM), 7β-Me(eq)-DHX (6540 nM), and 7α-Me(ax)-DHX (>10000 nM). Molecular modeling studies suggest that although the disruption of an aromatic interaction between Phe203(5.47) and Phe288(6.51) is the cause for the 14-fold loss in affinity associated with 8β-axial substitution, unfavorable steric interactions with Ser107(3.36) result in the more dramatic decreases in binding affinity suffered by the rest of the analogues.