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GABA B Receptor Chemistry and Pharmacology: Agonists, Antagonists, and Allosteric Modulators. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2021; 52:81-118. [PMID: 34036555 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2021_232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The GABAB receptors are metabotropic G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that mediate the actions of the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). In the CNS, GABA plays an important role in behavior, learning and memory, cognition, and stress. GABA is also located throughout the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and is involved in the autonomic control of the intestine and esophageal reflex. Consequently, dysregulated GABAB receptor signaling is associated with neurological, mental health, and gastrointestinal disorders; hence, these receptors have been identified as key therapeutic targets and are the focus of multiple drug discovery efforts for indications such as muscle spasticity disorders, schizophrenia, pain, addiction, and gastroesophageal reflex disease (GERD). Numerous agonists, antagonists, and allosteric modulators of the GABAB receptor have been described; however, Lioresal® (Baclofen; β-(4-chlorophenyl)-γ-aminobutyric acid) is the only FDA-approved drug that selectively targets GABAB receptors in clinical use; undesirable side effects, such as sedation, muscle weakness, fatigue, cognitive deficits, seizures, tolerance and potential for abuse, limit their therapeutic use. Here, we review GABAB receptor chemistry and pharmacology, presenting orthosteric agonists, antagonists, and positive and negative allosteric modulators, and highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting GABAB receptor modulation for the treatment of various CNS and peripheral disorders.
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Maltsev DV, Spasov AA, Miroshnikov MV, Skripka MO. Current Approaches to the Search of Anxiolytic Drugs. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY 2021. [DOI: 10.1134/s1068162021030122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Porcu A, Mostallino R, Serra V, Melis M, Sogos V, Beggiato S, Ferraro L, Manetti F, Gianibbi B, Bettler B, Corelli F, Mugnaini C, Castelli MP. COR758, a negative allosteric modulator of GABA B receptors. Neuropharmacology 2021; 189:108537. [PMID: 33798546 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Allosteric modulators of G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), including GABABRs (GABABRs), are promising therapeutic candidates. While several positive allosteric modulators (PAM) of GABABRs have been characterized, only recently the first negative allosteric modulator (NAM) has been described. In the present study, we report the characterization of COR758, which acts as GABABR NAM in rat cortical membranes and CHO cells stably expressing GABABRs (CHO-GABAB). COR758 failed to displace the antagonist [3H]CGP54626 from the orthosteric binding site of GABABRs showing that it acts through an allosteric binding site. Docking studies revealed a possible new allosteric binding site for COR758 in the intrahelical pocket of the GABAB1 monomer. COR758 inhibited basal and GABABR-stimulated O-(3-[35Sthio)-triphosphate ([35S]GTPγS) binding in brain membranes and blocked the enhancement of GABABR-stimulated [35S]GTPγS binding by the PAM GS39783. Bioluminescent resonance energy transfer (BRET) measurements in CHO-GABAB cells showed that COR758 inhibited G protein activation by GABA and altered GABABR subunit rearrangements. Additionally, the compound altered GABABR-mediated signaling such as baclofen-induced inhibition of cAMP production in transfected HEK293 cells, agonist-induced Ca2+ mobilization as well as baclofen and the ago-PAM CGP7930 induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2) in CHO-GABAB cells. COR758 also prevented baclofen-induced outward currents recorded from rat dopamine neurons, substantiating its property as a NAM for GABABRs. Altogether, these data indicate that COR758 inhibits G protein signaling by GABABRs, likely by interacting with an allosteric binding-site. Therefore, COR758 might serve as a scaffold to develop additional NAMs for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Porcu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042, Monserrato, Italy; Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50-70, CH-4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Rafaela Mostallino
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Valeria Serra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Miriam Melis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Valeria Sogos
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Sarah Beggiato
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Section of Medicinal and Health Products, and LTTA Center, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy; Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100, Chieti, Italy
| | - Luca Ferraro
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Section of Medicinal and Health Products, and LTTA Center, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Manetti
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, I-53100, Siena, SI, Italy
| | - Beatrice Gianibbi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, I-53100, Siena, SI, Italy
| | - Bernhard Bettler
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50-70, CH-4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Federico Corelli
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, I-53100, Siena, SI, Italy
| | - Claudia Mugnaini
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, I-53100, Siena, SI, Italy
| | - M Paola Castelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042, Monserrato, Italy; Guy Everett Laboratory, University of Cagliari, 09042, Monserrato, Italy; Center of Excellence "Neurobiology of Addiction", University of Cagliari, 09042, Monserrato, Italy.
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Mugnaini C, Brizzi A, Mostallino R, Castelli MP, Corelli F. Structure optimization of positive allosteric modulators of GABA B receptors led to the unexpected discovery of antagonists/potential negative allosteric modulators. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2020; 30:127443. [PMID: 32730942 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2020.127443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of GABAB receptor represent an interesting alternative to receptor agonists such as baclofen, as they act on the receptor in a more physiological way and thus are devoid of the side effects typically exerted by the agonists. Based on our interest in the identification of new GABAB receptor PAMs, we followed a merging approach to design new chemotypes starting from selected active compounds, such as GS39783, rac-BHFF, and BHF177, and we ended up with the synthesis of four different classes of compounds. The new compounds were tested alone or in the presence of 10 µM GABA using [35S]GTPγS binding assay to assess their functionality at the receptor. Unexpectedly, a number of them significantly inhibited GABA-stimulated GTPγS binding thus revealing a functional switch with respect to the prototype molecules. Further studies on selected compounds will clarify if they act as negative modulators of the receptor or, instead, as antagonists at the orthosteric binding site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Mugnaini
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, I-53100 Siena, SI, Italy.
| | - Antonella Brizzi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, I-53100 Siena, SI, Italy
| | - Rafaela Mostallino
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
| | - Maria Paola Castelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; Guy Everett Laboratory, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; Center of Excellence "Neurobiology of Addiction", University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy.
| | - Federico Corelli
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, I-53100 Siena, SI, Italy
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Porcu A, Melis M, Turecek R, Ullrich C, Mocci I, Bettler B, Gessa GL, Castelli MP. Rimonabant, a potent CB1 cannabinoid receptor antagonist, is a Gα i/o protein inhibitor. Neuropharmacology 2018; 133:107-120. [PMID: 29407764 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.01.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Revised: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Rimonabant is a potent and selective cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist widely used in animal and clinical studies. Besides its antagonistic properties, numerous studies have shown that, at micromolar concentrations rimonabant behaves as an inverse agonist at CB1 receptors. The mechanism underpinning this activity is unclear. Here we show that micromolar concentrations of rimonabant inhibited Gαi/o-type G proteins, resulting in a receptor-independent block of G protein signaling. Accordingly, rimonabant decreased basal and agonist stimulated [35S]GTPγS binding to cortical membranes of CB1- and GABAB-receptor KO mice and Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell membranes stably transfected with GABAB or D2 dopamine receptors. The structural analog of rimonabant, AM251, decreased basal and baclofen-stimulated GTPγS binding to rat cortical and CHO cell membranes expressing GABAB receptors. Rimonabant prevented G protein-mediated GABAB and D2 dopamine receptor signaling to adenylyl cyclase in Human Embryonic Kidney 293 cells and to G protein-coupled inwardly rectifying K+ channels (GIRK) in midbrain dopamine neurons of CB1 KO mice. Rimonabant suppressed GIRK gating induced by GTPγS in CHO cells transfected with GIRK, consistent with a receptor-independent action. Bioluminescent resonance energy transfer (BRET) measurements in living CHO cells showed that, in presence or absence of co-expressed GABAB receptors, rimonabant stabilized the heterotrimeric Gαi/o-protein complex and prevented conformational rearrangements induced by GABAB receptor activation. Rimonabant failed to inhibit Gαs-mediated signaling, supporting its specificity for Gαi/o-type G proteins. The inhibition of Gαi/o protein provides a new site of rimonabant action that may help to understand its pharmacological and toxicological effects occurring at high concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Porcu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042, Monserrato, Italy; Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50-70, CH-4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Miriam Melis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Rostislav Turecek
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50-70, CH-4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Celine Ullrich
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50-70, CH-4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ignazia Mocci
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council of Italy (CNR) U.O.S. of Cagliari, 09010, Pula, Italy
| | - Bernhard Bettler
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50-70, CH-4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Gian Luigi Gessa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042, Monserrato, Italy; Guy Everett Laboratory, University of Cagliari, 09042, Monserrato, Italy; Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Cagliari, Italy; Center of Excellence "Neurobiology of Addiction", University of Cagliari, 09042, Monserrato, Italy
| | - M Paola Castelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042, Monserrato, Italy; Center of Excellence "Neurobiology of Addiction", University of Cagliari, 09042, Monserrato, Italy.
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Freyd T, Warszycki D, Mordalski S, Bojarski AJ, Sylte I, Gabrielsen M. Ligand-guided homology modelling of the GABAB2 subunit of the GABAB receptor. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0173889. [PMID: 28323850 PMCID: PMC5360267 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0173889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, and disturbances in the GABAergic system have been implicated in numerous neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases. The GABAB receptor is a heterodimeric class C G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) consisting of GABAB1a/b and GABAB2 subunits. Two GABAB receptor ligand binding sites have been described, namely the orthosteric GABA binding site located in the extracellular GABAB1 Venus fly trap domain and the allosteric binding site found in the GABAB2 transmembrane domain. To date, the only experimentally solved three-dimensional structures of the GABAB receptor are of the Venus fly trap domain. GABAB receptor allosteric modulators, however, show great therapeutic potential, and elucidating the structure of the GABAB2 transmembrane domain may lead to development of novel drugs and increased understanding of the allosteric mechanism of action. Despite the lack of x-ray crystal structures of the GABAB2 transmembrane domain, multiple crystal structures belonging to other classes of GPCRs than class A have been released within the last years. More closely related template structures are now available for homology modelling of the GABAB receptor. Here, multiple homology models of the GABAB2 subunit of the GABAB receptor have been constructed using templates from class A, B and C GPCRs, and docking of five clusters of positive allosteric modulators and decoys has been undertaken to select models that enrich the active compounds. Using this ligand-guided approach, eight GABAB2 homology models have been chosen as possible structural representatives of the transmembrane domain of the GABAB2 subunit. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to describe homology modelling of the transmembrane domain of the GABAB2 subunit and the docking of positive allosteric modulators in the receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thibaud Freyd
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT - the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Dawid Warszycki
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
| | - Stefan Mordalski
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
| | - Andrzej J. Bojarski
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
| | - Ingebrigt Sylte
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT - the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- * E-mail:
| | - Mari Gabrielsen
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT - the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
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