Ligand efficacy and potency at recombinant human MT2 melatonin receptors: evidence for agonist activity of some mt1-antagonists

NIH3T3 fibroblast cells transfected with the full-length coding region of the MT2 human melatonin receptor stably expressed the receptor that is coupled to a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein and exhibits high affinity for melatonin (K(I) = 261 pM). The order of apparent affinity for selected compounds was: 4-phenyl-2-propionamidotetralin (4P-PDOT) > 2-phenylmelatonin > 2-iodomelatonin > 2-bromomelatonin > 6-chloromelatonin > or = melatonin > luzindole > N-acetyl-tryptamine > or = N-[(2-phenyl-1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl]cyclobutanecarboxamide (compound 6) > N-acetylserotonin. 4P-PDOT exhibited a very high selectivity (approximately 22,000 times) for the MT2 receptor with respect to the mt1 receptor subtype, as tested in comparative experiments with membrane preparations from NIH3T3 cells stably transfected with the human mt1 receptor. MT2 melatonin receptors mediated incorporation of [35S]-GTPgammaS into isolated membranes via receptor catalyzed exchange of [35S]-GTPgammaS for GDP. The relative intrinsic activity and potency of the compounds were subsequently studied by using [35S]-GTPgammaS incorporation. The order of potency was equal to the order of apparent affinity. Melatonin and full agonists increased [35S]-GTPgammaS binding by 250% over basal (taken as 100%). Luzindole did not increase basal [35S]-GTPgammaS binding but competitively inhibited melatonin-stimulated [35S]-GTPgammaS binding, thus exhibiting antagonist action. The other two mt1 antagonists used here, 4P-PDOT and N-[(2-phenyl-1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl]cyclobutanecarboxamide, behaved as partial agonists at the MT2 subtype, with relative intrinsic activities of 0.37 and 0.39, respectively. These findings show, for the first time, important differences in the intrinsic activity of analogues between the human mt1 and MT2 melatonin receptor subtypes.     

N-(substituted-anilinoethyl)amides: design, synthesis, and pharmacological characterization of a new class of melatonin receptor ligands

A novel series of melatonin receptor ligands, characterized by a N-(substituted-anilinoethyl)amido scaffold, along with preliminary structure-activity relationships (SARs), is presented. MT1 and MT2 receptor binding affinity and intrinsic activity have been modulated by the introduction of different substituents on the aniline nitrogen, on the benzene ring, and on the amide side chain. Modulation of intrinsic activity and MT2 selectivity of the newly synthesized compounds has been achieved by applying SAR models previously developed, providing compounds with different binding and intrinsic activity profiles. Compound 3d, with a bulky ss-naphthyl group, behaves as an MT2-selective antagonist with sub-nM affinity. Size reduction of the substituent enhances intrinsic activity, as in the nonselective N-methyl-anilino agonist 3i. The phenyl derivative 3g is an MT2-selective partial agonist, with MT2 binding affinity higher than melatonin, showing promising sleep-promoting and antianxiety properties in animal models.     

Synthesis of a novel series of benzocycloalkene derivatives as melatonin receptor agonists

We synthesized a novel series of benzocycloalkene derivatives and evaluated their binding affinities to melatonin receptors. To control the spatial position of the amide group, one of the important pharmacophores, we incorporated an endo double bond, an exo double bond (E- and Z-configurations), and a chiral center (R- and S-configurations) at position 1. The indan derivatives with the S-configuration at position 1 were the most promising in terms of potency and selectivity for the human melatonin receptor (MT(1) site), while compounds with the R-configuration showed little potential. Our next attempt was to investigate the most favorable conformation of the methoxy group, the other important pharmacophore for binding to the MT(1) receptor. The introduction of a methyl group at position 5 of the indene ring conserved affinity; however, at position 7, it caused a decrease in affinity. These results suggested that the substitution at position 7 forced the methoxy group to adopt an unfavorable orientation. The optimization of the condensed ring size and substituents led to (S)-8d [(S)-N-[2-(2,3-dihydro-6-methoxy-1H-inden-1-yl)ethyl]propionamide], which had high affinity for the human MT(1) receptor (K(i) = 0.041 nM) but no significant affinity for the hamster MT(3)receptor (K(i) = 3570 nM). In addition, a practical synthetic method of chiral N-[2-(2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-yl)ethyl]alkanamides employing asymmetric hydrogenation with (S)-2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl-Ru has been established.     

Melatonergic properties of the (+)- and (-)-enantiomers of N-(4-methoxy-2,3-dihydro-1H-phenalen-2-yl)amide derivatives

N-(4-Methoxy-2,3-dihydro-1H-phenalen-2-yl)amide derivatives, conformationally restricted ligands for melatonin receptors, were synthesized by an alternative synthetic method from the corresponding 1,8-naphthalic anhydride which was transformed into the phenalenecarboxylic acid 7. A Curtius reaction on 7 gave the amino compound which was acylated to give compounds 4a-c. The (+)- and (-)-4a-c enantiomers were separated by semipreparative chiral HPLC. Compounds were evaluated for their affinity for chicken brain melatonin receptors in binding assays using 2-[125I]iodomelatonin and for their potency to lighten the skin of Xenopus laevis tadpoles. The butyramido derivative 4c was the most potent ligand (Ki = 1.7 nM). No enantioselectivity was observed with the enantiomers which were equipotent to the racemic mixture. In contrast to the reference compounds, melatonin, agomelatine (S 20098), and N-[2-(2, 7-dimethoxynaphth-1-yl)ethyl]acetamide, which were very potent at lightening the skin of X. laevis tadpoles, compounds 4a-c were inactive or weakly active (EC50 > 1 microM). In this bioassay, compound 4a was characterized as a putative antagonist of melatonin receptors.     

2-N-acylaminoalkylindoles: design and quantitative structure-activity relationship studies leading to MT2-selective melatonin antagonists

Several indole analogues of melatonin (MLT) were obtained by moving the MLT side chain from C(3) to C(2) of the indole ring. Binding and in vitro functional assays were performed on cloned human MT1 and MT2 receptors, stably transfected in NIH3T3 cells. Quantitative structure-activity relationship studies showed that 4-methoxy-2-(N-acylaminomethyl)indoles, with a benzyl group in position 1, were selective MT2 antagonists and, in particular, N-[(1-p-chlorobenzyl-4-methoxy-1H-indol-2-yl)methyl]propanamide (12) behaved as a pure antagonist at MT1 and MT2 receptors, with a 148-fold selectivity for MT2. We present a topographical model that suggests a lipophilic group, located out of the plane of the indole ring of MLT, as the key feature of the MT2 selective antagonists.     

Design and synthesis of naphthalenic dimers as selective MT1 melatoninergic ligands

We report the synthesis and binding properties at MT(1) and MT(2) receptors of the first example of agomelatine (N-[2-(7-methoxynaphth-1-yl)ethyl]acetamide) dimers in which two agomelatine moieties are linked together through their methoxy substituent by a polymethylene side chain according to the "bivalent ligand" approach. Some of these compounds behave as MT(1)-selective ligands. The most selective one (5) behaves as an antagonist.     

Design and synthesis of N-(3,3-diphenylpropenyl)alkanamides as a novel class of high-affinity MT2-selective melatonin receptor ligands

A novel series of melatonin receptor ligands was discovered by opening the cyclic scaffolds of known classes of high affinity melatonin receptor antagonists, while retaining the pharmacophore elements postulated by previously described 3D-QSAR and receptor models. Compounds belonging to the classes of 2,3- and [3,3-diphenylprop(en)yl]alkanamides and of o- or [(m-benzyl)phenyl]ethyl-alkanamides were synthesized and tested on MT(1) and MT(2) receptors. The class of 3,3-diphenyl-propenyl-alkanamides was the most interesting one, with compounds having MT(2) receptor affinity similar to that of MLT, remarkable MT(2) selectivity, and partial agonist or antagonist behavior. In particular, the (E)-m-methoxy cyclobutanecarboxamido derivative 18f and the di-(m-methoxy) acetamido one, 18g, have sub-nM affinity for the MT(2) subtype, with more than 100-fold selectivity over MT(1), 18f being an antagonist and 18g a partial agonist on GTPgammaS test. Docking of 18g into a previously developed MT(2) receptor model showed a binding scheme consistent with that of other antagonists. The MT(2) expected binding affinities of the new compounds were calculated by a previously developed 3D-QSAR CoMFA model, giving satisfactory predictions.     

Fluorescent and biotin probes for dopamine receptors: D1 and D2 receptor affinity and selectivity

Fluorophor and biotin derivatives of dopamine agonist and antagonist drugs were synthesized and evaluated for binding affinity and selectivity at D1 and D2 dopamine receptors in membranes prepared from monkey (Macaca fascicularis) caudate putamen. Binding was measured using [3H]SCH 23390 to label D1 receptors and [3H]spiperone to label D2 receptors. The selective D1 antagonist SKF 83566, whether coupled to 7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole-4-yl (NBD), to fluorescein, or to biotin retained high affinity for D1 dopamine receptors (Ki, 5.3 16 and 3.5 nM, respectively) and high D1/D2 receptor selectivity (130-, 300, and 600-fold, respectively). The selective D2 antagonist derivative N-(p-aminophenethyl)spiperone, (NAPS) coupled either to biotin or to NBD via the N-aminoethylphenyl group, likewise retained high D2 receptor affinity (Ki, 0.58 and 0.66 nM, respectively) and high D2/D1 selectivity (190- and 150-fold, respectively). The affinity of the NBD-coupled derivative of (S)-2-(N-phenylethyl-N-propyl)-amino-5-hydroxytetralin hydrochloride [(S)-PPHT], a selective D2 agonist, was actually higher than that of the parent compound (Ki, 0.30 versus 2.1 nM), whereas the affinity of fluorescein-coupled (S)-PPHT was lower (Ki, 4.8 nM). Sensitivity to GTP, a characteristic of agonist binding at dopamine receptors, was demonstrated for NBD-coupled (S)-PPHT, because D2 receptor affinity was somewhat reduced in the presence of GTP. PPHT-fluorescein fluorescence labeling rimmed cells in monkey and rat anterior pituitary and outlined cells in the striatum. Fluorescent and biotin probes based on selective high affinity ligands for dopamine receptors may expedite studies of receptor localization and mobility at the cellular level.     

Mapping the melatonin receptor. 6. Melatonin agonists and antagonists derived from 6H-isoindolo[2,1-a]indoles, 5,6-dihydroindolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines, and 6,7-dihydro-5H-benzo[c]azepino[2,1-a]indoles

6H-Isoindolo[2,1-a]indoles (5, 7, 10, 13), 5,6-dihydroindolo[2, 1-a]isoquinolines (20, 21), and 6,7-dihydro-5H-benzo[c]azepino[2, 1-a]indoles (23, 25, 27, 30) have been prepared as melatonin analogues to investigate the nature of the binding site of the melatonin receptor. The affinity of analogues was determined in a radioligand binding assay using cloned human mt(1) and MT(2) receptor subtypes expressed in NIH 3T3 cells. Agonist and antagonist potency was measured using the pigment aggregation response of a clonal line of Xenopus laevis melanophores. The 2-methoxyisoindolo[2, 1-a]indoles (7a-d) showed much higher binding affinities than the parent isoindoles (5a-e), and whereas 7a-c were agonists in the functional assay, 7d and 5a-e were antagonists. The 2-ethoxyisoindolo[2,1-a]indoles (10a-d) showed reduced binding affinities compared to their methoxy analogues, while the 5-chloro derivative 13 showed a considerable reduction in binding affinity and potency compared to 7a. The 10-methoxy-5,6-dihydroindolo[2, 1-a]isoquinolines (21a-c) had higher binding affinities than the corresponding parent indoloisoquinolines (20a-c) in the human receptor subtypes, and the parent compounds were antagonists whereas the 10-methoxy derivatives were agonists in the functional assay. The N-cyclobutanecarbonyl derivatives of both the parent (20d) and 10-methoxyl (21d) series had similar binding affinities and were both antagonists with similar potencies. The 11-methoxy-6, 7-5H-benzo[c]azepino[2,1-a]indoles (25a-d) had higher binding affinities than the corresponding parent compounds (23a-d) at the MT(2) receptor but similar affinities at the mt(1) site; all of the compounds were antagonists in the functional assay. Changing 11-methoxy for 11-ethoxy decreased the binding affinity slightly, and this was more evident at the MT(2) receptor. All of the derivatives investigated had either the same or a greater affinity for the human MT(2) receptor compared to the mt(1) receptor (range 1:1-1:132). This suggests that the mt(1) and MT(2) receptor pockets differ in their ability to accommodate alkyl groups in the indole nitrogen region of the melatonin molecule. Two compounds (7c and 25c) were tested in functional assays on recombinant mt(1) and MT(2) melatonin receptors. Compound 7c is a potent agonist with some selectivity (44-fold) for the MT(2) receptor, while 25c is an MT(2)-preferring antagonist. Increasing the carbon chain length between N-1 of indole and the 2-phenyl group from n = 1 through n = 3 leads to a fairly regular decrease in the binding affinity, but, remarkably, when n = 3, it converts the methoxy compounds from melatonin agonists to antagonists. The Xenopus melatonin receptor thus cannot accommodate an N-n-alkyl chain attached to a 2-phenyl substituent with n > 2 in the required orientation to induce or stabilize the active receptor conformation.     

Tricyclic alkylamides as melatonin receptor ligands with antagonist or inverse agonist activity

This work reports the design and synthesis of novel alkylamides, characterized by a dibenzo[a,d]cycloheptene nucleus, as melatonin (MLT) receptor ligands. The tricyclic scaffold was chosen on the basis of previous quantitative structure-activity studies on MT1 and MT2 antagonists, relating selective MT2 antagonism to the presence of an aromatic substituent out of the plane of the MLT indole ring. Some dibenzo seven-membered structures were thus selected because of the noncoplanar arrangement of their benzene rings, and an alkylamide chain was introduced to fit the requirements for MLT receptor binding, namely, dibenzocycloheptenes with an acylaminoalkyl side chain at position 10 and dibenzoazepines with this side chain originating from the nitrogen atom bridging the two phenyl rings. Binding affinity at human cloned MT1 and MT2 receptors was measured by 2-[125I]iodomelatonin displacement assay and intrinsic activity by the GTPgammaS test. The majority of the compounds were characterized by higher affinity at the MT2 than at the MT1 receptor and by very low intrinsic activity values, thus confirming the importance of the noncoplanar arrangement of the two aromatic rings for selective MT2 antagonism. Dibenzocycloheptenes generally displayed higher MT1 and MT 2affinity than dibenzoazepines. N-(8-Methoxy-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-10-ylmethyl)propionamide (4c) and -butyramide (4d) were the most selective MT2 receptor antagonists of the series, with MT2 receptor affinity comparable to that of melatonin and as such among the highest reported in the literature for MLT receptor antagonists. The acetamide derivative 4b produced a noticeable reduction of GTPgammaS binding at MT2 receptor, thus being among the few inverse agonists described.     

Melatonin receptor agonists: SAR and applications to the treatment of sleep-wake disorders

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is synthesized and released by the pineal gland following a circadian rhythm characterized by high levels during the night. It shows several pharmacological effects on diverse cellular and animal models, mainly related to either its antioxidant activity or to its ability to activate specific receptors (MTr). Melatonin is widely used as a self-administered food additive, but its therapeutic potential needs more investigation and is hampered by its poor pharmacokinetics. This review will focus on the medicinal chemistry of agonist ligands of the two human GPCRs MT(1) and MT(2) melatonin receptors. The recent introduction of ramelteon, a non-selective MT(1)/MT(2) agonist for the treatment of insomnia, and the advancement to clinical trials of other MTr agonists have renewed interest for different classes of compounds endowed with this activity. Several chemical classes of MTr agonists are described in the literature, generally characterized by an indole, or an indole bioisostere, carrying an amide side chain and a methoxy group, or substituents with similar stereoelectronic features. Abundant information is available for non-selective MT(1)/MT(2) ligands, and several molecular models, both ligand- and receptor-based, have been proposed to rationalize their structure activity relationships. Fewer classes of selective agonists have been reported in the literature, and they could help clarifying the physiological role of the two receptor subtypes. A brief discussion on the therapeutic potential of this class of compounds is based on the clinical data available for the agonists ramelteon, agomelatine, beta-methyl-6-chloromelatonin (TIK-301) and VEC-162.     

Three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship studies on selected MT1 and MT2 melatonin receptor ligands: requirements for subtype selectivity and intrinsic activity modulation

The three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship comparative molecular field analysis (3D-QSAR CoMFA) approach was applied to some classes of melatonin (MLT) membrane receptor ligands, with the principal aim of exploring the correlation between their steric features and MT(2)-selective antagonism. Binding data obtained from cloned MT(1) and MT(2) receptor subtypes were used to develop 3D-QSAR models for agonists and for antagonists at the two receptor subtypes, looking for the structural requirements for receptor subtype selectivity. In particular, we superposed the compounds showing antagonist activity, or very low intrinsic activity at the GTPgammaS test, following the hypothesis that the occupation of an additional pocket positioned out of the plane of MLT is one of the major determinants for MT(2) selectivity; the statistical models obtained confirmed this hypothesis. Structure-intrinsic activity relationship studies, applied to a set of compounds homogeneously tested, allowed the identification of the structural features whose modulation shifts the behavior from that of the agonist to that of the antagonist. The pocket out of the plane of MLT was identified as one of the key features for obtaining selective MT(2) antagonists. The reliability of our statistical models was further confirmed by the correct prediction of the pharmacological behavior of some N-substituted melatonin derivatives, which were prepared and tested on cloned receptor subtypes.     

Molecular cloning and pharmacological characterization of rat melatonin MT1 and MT2 receptors

In order to interpret the effects of melatonin ligands in rats, we need to determine their activity at the receptor subtype level in the corresponding species. Thus, the rat melatonin rMT(1) receptor was cloned using DNA fragments for exon 1 and 2 amplified from rat genomic DNA followed by screening of a rat genomic library for the full length exon sequences. The rat rMT(2) receptor subtype was cloned in a similar manner with the exception of exon 1 which was identified by screening a rat genomic library with exon 1 of the human hMT(2) receptor. The coding region of these receptors translates proteins of 353 and 364 amino acids, respectively, for rMT(1) and rMT(2). A 55% homology was observed between both rat isoforms. The entire contiguous rat MT(1) and MT(2) receptor coding sequences were cloned, stably expressed in CHO cells and characterized in binding assay using 2-[(125)I]-Iodomelatonin. The dissociation constants (K(d)) for rMT(1) and rMT(2) were 42 and 130 pM, respectively. Chemically diverse compounds previously characterized at human MT(1) and MT(2) receptors were evaluated at rMT(1) and rMT(2) receptors, for their binding affinity and functionality in [(35)S]-GTPgammaS binding assay. Some, but not all, compounds shared a similar binding affinity and functionality at both rat and human corresponding subtypes. A different pharmacological profile of the MT(1) subtype has also been observed previously between human and ovine species. These in vitro results obtained with the rat melatonin receptors are thus of importance to understand the physiological roles of each subtype in animal models.     

GABAA receptor pharmacology of fluorinated derivatives of the novel sedative-hypnotic pyrazolopyrimidine indiplon

The function of gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptors (GABA(A) receptors) is enhanced by various clinically important drugs including benzodiazepines that act on an allosteric site formed at the interface between the alpha and gamma subunits. In contrast to classical benzodiazepines, the novel pyrazolopyrimidine indiplon (N-methyl-N-{3-[7-(thiophene-2-carbonyl)-1,5,9-triazabicyclo[4.3.0]nona-2,4,6,8-tetraen-2-yl]phenyl}acetamide; N-methyl-N-{3-[3-(thiophene-2-carbonyl)-pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-7-yl]phenyl}-acetamide) demonstrates relative binding selectivity for the alpha1 subunit containing receptor subtypes, which are the most frequently expressed in the mammalian central nervous system. To investigate the pharmacological properties at GABA(A) receptors and to promote the development of alpha1 subunit selective radiotracers for positron emission tomography imaging, we have started with the evaluation of various fluorinated indiplon derivatives. Binding affinities were determined in homogenates from newborn and adult rats suggesting an alpha1 preference of the reference compounds indiplon, zaleplon as well as for all newly synthesized indiplon derivatives. In homogenated cerebellar tissue obtained from adult rat brain, known to primarily express alpha1 containing GABA(A) receptors, the high affinity of the basic indiplon structure was only slightly affected by an elongation of the alkyl substituent of the amide N from methyl (indiplon; K(i) 3.1 nM) via ethyl (2a, N-(2-fluoro-ethyl)-N-{3-[3-(thiophene-2-carbonyl)-pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-7-yl]phenyl}-acetamide; K(i) 5.4 nM) to propyl (2b, N-(3-fluoro-propyl)-N-{3-[3-(thiophene-2-carbonyl)-pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-7-yl]phenyl}-acetamide; K(i) 2.4 nM). Whole cell patch-clamp recordings at neuronal and recombinant GABA(A) receptors indicated that the fluorinated derivatives 2a and 2b have a high potency at alpha1beta3gamma2L isoforms comparable to indiplon (EC(50): 105, 158, and 81 nM, respectively), with 2b displaying the most pronounced efficacy at alpha3beta3gamma2L subtypes. In conclusion, the affinity profiles and functional properties of the newly synthesised fluorinated indiplon derivatives make compounds 2a and 2b suitable for the development of [(18)F]-labelled ligands at GABA(A) receptors containing the alpha1 subunit.     

Involvement of melatonin MT(3) receptors in the regulation of intraocular pressure in rabbits

Melatonin, a neurohormone secreted by the pineal gland, can stimulate three subtypes of receptors, namely: mt(1), MT(2) and MT(3). We examined the ability of melatonin and the selective MT(3) receptor agonist, 5-methoxycarbonylamino-N-acetyltryptamine (5-MCA-NAT), to modify intraocular pressure in rabbits. Both compounds significantly reduced intraocular pressure, maximally by 24% and 43%, respectively, with IC(50) values of 363+/-23.0 and 423+/-30.0 ng/10 microl (1.6+/-0.1 and 1.8+/-0.1 nmol, respectively). The non-specific melatonin receptor antagonist, luzindole, abolished the depressant effect of both compounds, thus confirming the involvement of melatonin receptors. Our results show, for the first time, a functional response that may be regulated by melatonin MT(3) receptors, and provide evidence that supports a role of melatonin in the circadian changes of intraocular pressure.     

Utilization of an intramolecular hydrogen bond to increase the CNS penetration of an NK(1) receptor antagonist.

This paper describes the synthesis and physical and biological effects of introducing different substituents at the alpha-position of the tryptophan containing neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist [(R)-2-(1H-indol-3-yl)-1-methyl-1-((S)-1-phenyl-ethylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-carbamic acid benzofuran-2-ylmethyl ester (CI 1021). The described compounds all exhibit less than 5 nM binding affinities for the human neurokinin-1 receptor and selectivity over the tachykinin NK(2) and NK(3) receptor subtypes. Application of variable temperature nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies of the amide and urethane protons was utilized to determine the existence of an intramolecular hydrogen bond. This intramolecular hydrogen bond increases the apparent lipophilicity to allow increased central nervous system penetration and pharmacological activity (gerbil foot tap test) in the case of the highest affinity compound [(S)-1-dimethylaminomethyl-2-(1H-indol-3-yl)-1-((S)-1-phenyl-ethylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-carbamic acid benzofuran-2-ylmethyl ester (PD 174424) over those analogues that could not form an intramolecular hydrogen bond.     

Structure-affinity relationship study on N-[4-(4-arylpiperazin-1-yl)butyl]arylcarboxamides as potent and selective dopamine D(3) receptor ligands

The benzamide PB12 (N-[2-[4-(4-chlorophenyl)piperazin-1-yl]ethyl]-3-methoxybenzamide) (1), already reported as potent and selective dopamine D(4) receptor ligand, has been modified searching for structural features that could lead to D(3) receptor affinity. Changes in the aromatic ring linked to N-1 piperazine ring led to the identification of 2-methoxyphenyl and 2,3-dichlorophenyl derivatives (compounds 6 and 13) displaying moderate D(3) affinity (K(i) = 145 and 31 nM, respectively). Intermediate alkyl chain elongation in compounds 1, 6, and 13 improved binding affinity for the D(3) receptor and decreased the D(4) affinity (compounds 18-26). Among these latter compounds, the N-[4-[4-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)piperazin-1-yl]butyl]-3-methoxybenzamide (19) was further modified with the replacement or of the 2,3-dichlorophenyl moiety (compounds 27-30) or of the 3-methoxyphenyl ring (compounds 31-41). In this way, we identified several high-affinity D(3) ligands (0.13 nM < K(i)'s < 4.97 nM) endowed with high selectivity over D(2), D(4), 5-HT(1A), and alpha(1) receptors. In addition, N-[4-[4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperazin-1-yl]butyl]-3-methoxybenzamide (27) and N-[4-[4-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)piperazin-1-yl]butyl]-7-methoxy-2-benzofurancarboxamide (41) appear to be valuable candidates for positron emission tomography (PET) because of their affinity values, lipophilicity properties, and liability of (11)C labeling in the O-methyl position.     

Mapping the melatonin receptor. 7. Subtype selective ligands based on beta-substituted N-acyl-5-methoxytryptamines and beta-substituted N-acyl-5-methoxy-1-methyltryptamines

A series of beta-substituted and beta,beta-disubstituted N-acyl 5-methoxy-1-methyltryptamines and 5-methoxytryptamines have been prepared as melatonin analogues to investigate the nature of the binding site of the melatonin receptor. The affinity of analogues was determined in a radioligand binding assay using cloned human MT(1) and MT(2) receptor subtypes expressed in NIH 3T3 cells. Agonist and antagonist potency of all analogues was measured using the pigment aggregation response of a clonal line of Xenopus laevis melanophores. beta-Methylmelatonin (17a) and beta,beta-dimethylmelatonin (17b), though showing a slight decrease in binding at human receptors, show an increase in potency on Xenopus. N-Butanoyl 5-methoxy-1-methyl-beta,beta-trimethylenetryptamine (12c) is an antagonist at human MT(1) receptors but an agonist at MT(2), while N-butanoyl 5-methoxy-1-methyl-beta,beta-tetramethylenetryptamine (13c) is an antagonist at MT(1) but had no action at MT(2) and is one of the first examples of an MT(1) selective antagonist.     

New selective ligands of human cloned melatonin MT1 and MT2 receptors

Melatonin has a key role in the circadian rhythm relay to periphery organs. Melatonin exerts its multiple roles mainly through two seven transmembrane domain, G-coupled receptors, namely MT1 or MT2 receptors. A pharmacological characterization of these human cloned melatonin hMT1 and hMT2 receptors stably expressed in HEK-293 or CHO cells is presented using a 2-[125I]-iodo-melatonin binding assay and a [35S]-GTPgammaS functional assay. Both reference compounds and new chemically diverse ligands were evaluated. Binding affinities at each receptor were found to be comparable on either HEK-293 or CHO cell membranes. Novel non-selective or selective hMT1 and hMT2 ligands are described. The [35S]-GTPgammaS functional assay was used to define the functional activity of these compounds which included partial, full agonist and/or antagonist activity. None of the compounds acted as an inverse agonist. We report new types of selective antagonists, such as S 25567 and S 26131 for MT1 and S 24601 for MT2. These studies brought other new molecular tools such as the selective MT1 agonist, S 24268, as well as the non-selective antagonist, S 22153. Finally, we also discovered S 25150, the most potent melatonin receptor agonist, so far reported in the literature.