The Role of Lipids in Allosteric Modulation of Dopamine D2 Receptor—In Silico Study

The dopamine D₂ receptor, belonging to the class A G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), is an important drug target for several diseases, including schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease. The D₂ receptor can be activated by the natural neurotransmitter dopamine or by synthetic ligands, which in both cases leads to the receptor coupling with a G protein. In addition to receptor modulation by orthosteric or allosteric ligands, it has been shown that lipids may affect the behaviour of membrane proteins. We constructed a model of a D₂ receptor with a long intracellular loop (ICL3) coupled with G_iα1 or G_iα2 proteins, embedded in a complex asymmetric membrane, and simulated it in complex with positive, negative or neutral allosteric ligands. In this study, we focused on the influence of ligand binding and G protein coupling on the membrane–receptor interactions. We show that there is a noticeable interplay between the cell membrane, G proteins, D₂ receptor and its modulators.     

Practical Synthesis of p‐Aminophenethylspiperone (NAPS), a High‐Affinity,Selective D2‐Dopamine Receptor Antagonist

Because attempts to scale up the published synthetic preparation of p‐aminophenethylspiperone (NAPS) by N‐alkylation of spiperone with 4‐nitrophenethyl bromide followed by reduction gave poor yields and difficulties during purification, an alternative synthetic approach has been developed. Use of 4‐(N‐tert‐butyloxycarbonyl) aminophenethyl bromide to alkylate spiperone followed by the Boc group deprotection gave NAPS in 56% yield. This procedure provides an improved and efficient synthesis of the important high‐affinity, selective D₂‐dopamine receptor antagonist NAPS.     

Synthesis of D2 receptor ligand analogs incorporating one dicarba-closo-dodecaborane unit

Boron clusters, and especially dicarba-closo-dodecaboranes, can be used as hydrophobic pharmacophores in the design of new drugs and radiotracers. In the current Letter, analogs of enantiomeric substituted benzamides (Raclopride and FLB-457) in which the phenyl ring has been substituted by a carborane cage (either orto- or meta-carborane) have been developed as potential D₂ receptor antagonists. The formation of intramolecular hydrogen bonds (in solution) and the stability of the new chemical entities have been evaluated by means of ¹H NMR and HPLC-MS, respectively.     

N-Skatyltryptamines—Dual 5-HT6R/D2R Ligands with Antipsychotic and Procognitive Potential

A series of N-skatyltryptamines was synthesized and their affinities for serotonin and dopamine receptors were determined. Compounds exhibited activity toward 5-HT_1A, 5-HT_2A, 5-HT₆, and D₂ receptors. Substitution patterns resulting in affinity/activity switches were identified and studied using homology modeling. Chosen hits were screened to determine their metabolism, permeability, hepatotoxicity, and CYP inhibition. Several D₂ receptor antagonists with additional 5-HT₆R antagonist and agonist properties were identified. The former combination resembled known antipsychotic agents, while the latter was particularly interesting due to the fact that it has not been studied before. Selective 5-HT₆R antagonists have been shown previously to produce procognitive and promnesic effects in several rodent models. Administration of 5-HT₆R agonists was more ambiguous—in naive animals, it did not alter memory or produce slight amnesic effects, while in rodent models of memory impairment, they ameliorated the condition just like antagonists. Using the identified hit compounds 15 and 18, we tried to sort out the difference between ligands exhibiting the D₂R antagonist function combined with 5-HT₆R agonism, and mixed D₂/5-HT₆R antagonists in murine models of psychosis.     

A genetic algorithm for flexible molecular overlay and pharmacophore elucidation

Summary A genetic algorithm (GA) has been developed for the superimposition of sets of flexible molecules. Molecules are represented by a chromosome that encodes angles of rotation about flexible bonds and mappings between hydrogen-bond donor proton, acceptor lone pair and ring centre features in pairs of molecules. The molecule with the smallest number of features in the data set is used as a template, onto which the remaining molecules are fitted with the objective of maximising structural equivalences. The fitness function of the GA is a weighted combination of: (i) the number and the similarity of the features that have been overlaid in this way; (ii) the volume integral of the overlay; and (iii) the van der Waals energy of the molecular conformations defined by the torsion angles encoded in the chromosomes. The algorithm has been applied to a number of pharmacophore elucidation problems, i.e., angiotensin II receptor antagonists, Leu-enkephalin and a hybrid morphine molecule, 5-HT_1D agonists, benzodiazepine receptor ligands, 5-HT₃ antagonists, dopamine D₂ antagonists, dopamine reuptake blockers and FKBP12 ligands. The resulting pharmacophores are generated rapidly and are in good agreement with those derived from alternative means.     

Enantioenriched Positive Allosteric Modulators Display Distinct Pharmacology at the Dopamine D1 Receptor

(1) Background: Two first-in-class racemic dopamine D₁ receptor (D₁R) positive allosteric modulator (PAM) chemotypes (1 and 2) were identified from a high-throughput screen. In particular, due to its selectivity for the D₁R and reported lack of intrinsic activity, compound 2 shows promise as a starting point toward the development of small molecule allosteric modulators to ameliorate the cognitive deficits associated with some neuropsychiatric disease states; (2) Methods: Herein, we describe the enantioenrichment of optical isomers of 2 using chiral auxiliaries derived from (R)- and (S)-3-hydroxy-4,4-dimethyldihydrofuran-2(3H)-one (d- and l-pantolactone, respectively); (3) Results: We confirm both the racemate and enantiomers of 2 are active and selective for the D₁R, but that the respective stereoisomers show a significant difference in their affinity and magnitude of positive allosteric cooperativity with dopamine; (4) Conclusions: These data warrant further investigation of asymmetric syntheses of optically pure analogues of 2 for the development of D₁R PAMs with superior allosteric properties.     

Conformational and electronic study of dopamine interacting with the D2 dopamine receptor

We report an exhaustive conformational and electronic study on dopamine (DA) interacting with the D₂ dopamine receptor (D₂DR). For the first time, the complete surface of the conformational potential energy of the complex DA/D₂DR is reported. Such a surface was obtained through the use of QM/MM calculations. A detailed study of the molecular interactions that stabilize and destabilize the different molecular complexes was carried out using two techniques: Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules computations and nuclear magnetic shielding constants calculations. A comparative study of the behavior of DA in the gas phase, aqueous solution, and in the active site of D₂DR has allowed us to evaluate the degree of deformation suffered by the ligand and, therefore, analyze how rustic are the lock-key model and the induced fit theory in this case. Our results allow us to propose one of the conformations obtained as the “biologically relevant” conformation of DA when it is interacting with the D₂DR.     

Tetracyanonickelate compounds as sorptive materials and the substitution of their H2O content by D2O

The compounds NiNi(CN)₄·3,5H₂O and Ni(NH₃)₂Ni(CN)₄·H₂O have been studied to examine the possibility of substituting their H₂O or NH₃ content by D₂O. Contact with D₂O was performed after heating the compounds to several temperatures. Depending on the degree of decomposition of the original compounds different ranges of substitution were possible. In such manner the compounds NiNi(CN)₄·3,5D₂O, NiNi(CN)₄·5D₂O, Ni(NH₃)₂Ni(CN)₄·D₂O, and Ni(D₂O)₂Ni(CN)₄·D₂O were prepared and thermally they were less stable than the original ones. The substitution by D₂O is in agreement with the sorptive properties of the original tetracyanonickelate against different organic compounds using GC, since these could substitute the guest component and sometimes also the ligands during their decomposition.     

3D-pharmacophore models for selective A2A and A2B adenosine receptor antagonists

Three-dimensional pharmacophore models were generated for A2A and A2B adenosine receptors (ARs) based on highly selective A2A and A2B antagonists using the Catalyst program. The best pharmacophore model for selective A2A antagonists (Hypo-A2A) was obtained through a careful validation process. Four features contained in Hypo-A2A (one ring aromatic feature (R), one positively ionizable feature (P), one hydrogen bond acceptor lipid feature (L), and one hydrophobic feature (H)) seem to be essential for antagonists in terms of binding activity and A2A AR selectivity. The best pharmacophore model for selective A2B antagonists (Hypo-A2B) was elaborated by modifying the Catalyst common features (HipHop) hypotheses generated from the selective A2B antagonists training set. Hypo-A2B also consists of four features: one ring aromatic feature (R), one hydrophobic aliphatic feature (Z), and two hydrogen bond acceptor lipid features (L). All features play an important role in A2B AR binding affinity and are essential for A2B selectivity. Both A2A and A2B pharmacophore models have been validated toward a wide set of test molecules containing structurally diverse selective antagonists of all AR subtypes. They are capable of identifying correspondingly high potent antagonists and differentiating antagonists between subtypes. The results of our study will act as a valuable tool for retrieving structurally diverse compounds with desired biological activities and designing novel selective adenosine receptor ligands.     

Design and Synthesis of Arylpiperazine Serotonergic/Dopaminergic Ligands with Neuroprotective Properties

Long-chain arylpiperazine scaffold is a versatile template to design central nervous system (CNS) drugs that target serotonin and dopamine receptors. Here we describe the synthesis and biological evaluation of ten new arylpiperazine derivatives designed to obtain an affinity profile at serotonin 5-HT_1A, 5-HT_2A, 5-HT₇ receptor, and dopamine D₂ receptor of prospective drugs to treat the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or psychosis. Besides the structural features required for affinity at the target receptors, the new compounds incorporated structural fragments with antioxidant properties to counteract oxidative stress connected with ASD and psychosis. All the new compounds showed CNS MultiParameter Optimization score predictive of desirable ADMET properties and cross the blood–brain barrier. We identified compound 12a that combines an affinity profile compatible with antipsychotic activity (5-HT_1A K_i = 41.5 nM, 5-HT_2A K_i = 315 nM, 5-HT₇ K_i = 42.5 nM, D₂ K_i = 300 nM), and compound 9b that has an affinity profile consistent with studies in the context of ASD (5-HT_1A K_i = 23.9 nM, 5-HT_2A K_i = 39.4 nM, 5-HT₇ K_i = 45.0 nM). Both compounds also had antioxidant properties. All compounds showed low in vitro metabolic stability, the only exception being compound 9b, which might be suitable for studies in vivo.     

α1A-亚型肾上腺素受体拮抗剂3D药效团模型的研究

运用Catalyst软件以34个α_1A-AR拮抗剂分子为训练集, 构建了包含一个氢键受体、一个正电中心和一个芳环中心的三元素药效团模型, 线性回归相关系数为0.89. 经13个分子组成的测试集验证该药效团模型具有较好的活性预测能力, 为寻找新的α_1A-AR拮抗剂分子提供了理论基础.     

Facile Construction of the 7,8‐Olefin Linkage in Vitamin D3: A Practical Synthesis Benefiting the Vitamin D3 Analog Study

Abstract

A facile procedure for construction of the 7,8‐olefin linkage in vitamin D₃ is described. Treatment of a mixture of A‐ring phosphine oxide and CD‐ring ketone in THF with lithium hexamethyldisilazide (LHMDS) at ?20°C followed by gradual heating to 50°C gives the key intermediate of vitamin D₃ analogs in excellent yield. This simplified procedure makes possible small‐scale synthesis benefiting the vitamin D₃ analog study.     

Study of the vibrational spectra of SO2, H2O and D2O using the U(4) algebraic model

Using the U(4) algebraic model, in this work we report a study of the vibrational spectra of SO₂, H₂0¹⁸ and D₂O¹⁶. The inclusion of intermode couplings in algebraic models has been stated to give a deep insight into detailed spectroscopy for these bent XY₂ molecules. Improved set of algebraic parameters has been reported to provide improved RMS deviations for these molecules.     

Conformational analyses on histamine H2-receptor antagonists

Summary In a series of compounds with H₂-antihistaminic activity, a conformational analysis was performed based on force field calculations. The drugs studied were cimetidine, ranitidine, famotidine, roxatidine and the conformationally more restricted ICI127032. For the compounds containing a flexible chain, the local minima conformations and the global minimum conformation were calculated. These conformations were used for a systematic structural comparison with all energetically allowed conformations of the ICI derivative, with regard to the best fit of the common structural features. In this way a pharmacophore could be developed consisting of four parts: (1) a polar planar group, uncharged at physiological pH; (2) a hydrophobic part formed by aromatic systems or flexible chains; (3) an—under physiological conditions—protonated nitrogen atom; and (4) a substructure, which contains a hydrogen bond donor site and a hydrogen bond acceptor site in a specific spatial arrangement.     

DSC study of the phase transitions in [Ni(D2O)6](ClO4)2 and [Ni(H2O)6](ClO4)2

DSC measurements were carried out for [Ni(H₂O)₆](ClO₄)₂ (sampleH) and [Ni(D₂O)₆](ClO₄)₂ (sampleD) in the temperature range 300–380 K. For both compounds two anomalies on the DSC curves were detected. The results for sampleH are compared to those previously obtained using adiabatic calorimetry method. For both compounds studied in this work the high-temperature transition appears at the same temperature while the low-temperature one is shifted towards higher temperatures in sampleD. Disorder connected with H₂O or D₂O groups is suggested in the intermediate phase between the low- and high-temperature transitions.     

Solubility of 13 nonpolar gases in deuterium oxide at 15–45°C and 101.325 kPa. Thermodynamics of transfer of nonpolar gases from H2O to D2O

Using a computer controlled version of the Ben-Naim and Baer apparatus, the solubilities of He, Ne, Ar, Kr, H₂, D₂, N₂, O₂, CH₄, C₂H₆, C₃H₈, CF₄, and SF₆ in D₂O (and the solubility of CF₄ in H₂O) were determined at four temperatures in the range 288 to 318 K and at a partial pressure of gas of 101.325 kPa. The precision of the measurements was 0.3–1.0%. The experimental data were processed using rigorous thermodynamic methods and were fitted to the Clarke-Glew-Weiss equation. Changes in the thermodynamic properties on solution were calculated from the smoothing equations. Scaled-particle theory (SPT) was used to determine the Lennard-Jones (6,12) pair potential parameters for D₂O: =0.275 nm and /k=83.4 K. Experimental mole fraction solubilities and thermodynamic functions at 298.15 K were compared with results calculated using the SPT. The thermodynamic transfer functions of gases from H₂O to D₂O were calculated. The changes induced by the solvation process on the structure of water were estimated from the Gibbs energy of transfer and the difference in the hydrogen bond energies for D₂O and H₂O.     

Quercetin enhances vitamin D2 stability and mitigate the degradation influenced by elevated temperature and pH value

Vitamin D₂ (vit. D₂) is a nutraceutical essentially needed for good health. However, it is susceptible to oxygen and high temperature. The use of natural products such as bioflavonoids possessing anti-degradative effect of vit. D₂ degradation has not been described before. A combinational effect of vit. D₂ with quercetin showed a positive effect and inhibited vit. D₂ degradation when exposed to high temperature (50 ℃ and 75 ℃) at different time points. The results obtained revealed vit. D₂ degradation was drastically increased with longer incubation under thermal treatment. However, quercetin and vit. D₂ groups were able to significantly inhibit the degradation of vit. D₂ and stabilize it, evaluated through the retention percentage. We also exposed vit. D₂ at solutions with different pH values (1, 4, 5, 7, 10). Quercetin exerted vit. D₂ anti-degradation at different pH values as well as under thermal pressure at different time points. Conclusively, quercetin can be an effective way to reduce temperature and pH induced degradation of vit. D₂.     

Pharmacophore development for antagonists at α1 adrenergic receptor subtypes

Summary Many receptors, including ₁ adrenergic receptors, have a range of subtypes. This offers possibilities for the development of highly selective antagonists with potentially fewer detrimental effects. Antagonists developed for _1A receptors, for example, would have potential in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. As part of the molecular design process, structural features necessary for the selective affinity for _1A and _1B adrenergic receptors have been investigated. The molecular modelling software (particularly the Apex module) of Molecular Simulations, Inc. was used to develop pharmacophore models for these two subtypes. Low-energy conformations of a set of known antagonists were used as input, together with a classification of the receptor affinity data. The biophores proposed by the program were evaluated and pharmacophores were proposed. The pharmacophore models were validated by testing the fit of known antagonists, not included in the training set. The critical structural feature for selectivity between the _1A and _1B adrenergic receptor sites is the distance between the basic nitrogen atom and the centre of an aromatic ring system. This will be exploited in the design and synthesis of structurally new selective antagonists for these sites.     

Infrared study of solvent-solute interactions of 1-substituted 2-pyrrolidinones and related compounds

Summary The wavenumbers of the carbonyl stretching vibrations of 2-pyrrolidinone (P), 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (MP), 1-isopropyl-2-pyrrolidinone (IPP), 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidinone (HEP), 2-oxobenzothiazole (OBT), and 3-octyl-2-oxobenzothiazole (OOBT) were measured inn-hexane/CDCl₃, acetonitrile/D₂O, methanol/D₂O, and 2-butoxyethanol/D₂O mixtures and compared with similar data for 1-cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidinone (CHP) and dimethylacetamide (DMA). The dependencies of the wavenumbers on the mole fraction of the less polar cosolvent in binary mixtures allow a distinction and assignment of all species resulting from weak solute-solvent and solute-solute interactions. The slopes of the dependencies of the wavenumbers on the mole fraction for similar intermolecular species inn-hexane/CDCl₃ mixtures correlate well with the relative hydrogen bond basicities (i.e. hydrogen bonding abilities with phenol) and reveal that the solvent sensitivities significantly depend on the steric requirements in the vicinity of the C=O group. On the other hand, the slopes of similar dependencies in acetonitrile/D₂O mixtures are proportional to the electron donating effects of alkyl groups attached to the nitrogen atom of the pyrrolidinone ring. In the case of mixtures formed by two strongly hydrogen bonding cosolvents (alcohols/D₂O), a competitive equilibrium occurs between the hydrogen bonding tendency of both cosolvents and 1-substituted 2-pyrrolidinones. In solutions of 1-substituted 2-pyrrolidinones in water-rich 2-butoxyethanol/D₂O mixtures, microheterogeneous domains occur before classic mixtures of two polar liquids are formed.

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Infrarotuntersuchungen über Wechselwirkungen von 1-substituierten 2-Pyrrolidinonen und verwandten Verbindungen mit Lösungsmitteln

Zusammenfassung Die Wellenzahlen der Carbonylstreckschwingungen von 2-Pyrrolidinon (P), 1-Methyl-2-pyrrolidinon (MP), 1-Isopropyl-2-pyrrolidinon (IPP), 1-(2-Hydroxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidinon (HEP), 2-Oxobenzothiazol (OBT) und 3-Octyl-2-oxobenzothiazol (OOBT) wurden inn-Hexan/CDCl₃, Acetonitril/D₂O, methanol/D₂O und 2-Butoxyethanol/D₂O gemessen und mit den entsprechenden Daten für 1-Cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidinon (CHP) und Dimethylacetamid (DMA) verglichen. Die Abhängigkeit der Wellenzahlen vom Molenbruch des weniger polaren Lösungsmittels in binären Mischungen erlaubt eine Unterscheidung und Zuordnung aller durch schwache Wechselwirkungen zwischen gelöster Substanz und Lösungsmittel bzw. durch Wechselwirkungen der gelösten Moleküle untereinander entstehenden Spezies. Für ähnliche Moleküle inn-Hexan/CDCl₃ — Mischungen korrelieren die Steigungen der Abhängigkeiten der Wellenzahlen vom Molenbruch gut mit den relativen Basizitäten der Wasserstoffbrückenbindungen (d.h. mit der Fähigkeit zur Ausbildung von Wasserstoffbrückenbindungen mit Phenol) und beweisen, daß die Lösungsmittelabhängigkeiten wesentlich von sterischen Faktoren in der Umgebung der Carbonylgruppe abhängen. Andererseits sind die Steigungen entsprechender Korrelationen in Acetonitril/D₂O — Mischungen zur Elektronendonatorfähigkeit von an das Stickstoffatom des Pyrrolidinonrings gebundenen Alkylgruppen proportional. Im Fall von Mischungen aus zwei stark wasserstoffbrückenbildenden Lösungsmitteln (Alkohole/D₂O) stellt sich ein kompetitives. Gleichgewicht zwischen der Tendenz zur Wasserstoffbrückenbindungsbildung beider Lösungsmittel und den 1-substituierten 2-Pyrrolidinonen ein. In Lösungen von 1-substituierten 2-Pyrrolidinonen in 2-Butoxyethanol/D₂O — Mischungen mit hohem Wasseranteil treten vor der Ausbildung klassischer Mischungen zweier polarer Flüssigkeiten mikroheterogene Domänen auf.

     

Quantitative Determination of Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) in Extracts of Biological Matrices by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

A method was developed and validated to measure octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D₄)^? quantitatively by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) at low level in extracts of several biological matrices that include plasma, liver, lung, feces and fat from rats. The key to the successful determination lay in the use of extracts dried with anhydrous magnesium sulfate. This was necessary in view of the propensity of the methyl siloxane based GC-stationary phase to generate D₄ by its reaction with water present in the extracts. To enable quantiiation of D₄ at parts per billion (μg/L) levels, the base ion m/z 281 resulting from the loss of a methyl group from the parent molecule was selected for monitoring by SIM mode in GC-MS. The recovery of D₄ from any of the biological matrices was determined to be greater than 90% in three extractions. The D₄ response for the standards in GC-MS was linear (R² > 0.9900) and reproducible at concentrations ranging from 1—16,000 ng D₄/g solvent. Precision was less than 5%.