Dibenzofuranylethylamines as 5-HT<sub>2A/2C</sub> Receptor Agonists

The human 5-HT2 receptor subtypes have high sequence identity in their orthosteric ligand-binding domain, and many agonists are poorly selective between the 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C subtypes. Nevertheless, their activation is associated with different pharmacological outcomes. We synthesized five phenethyl...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Yempala, Thirumal, Brea Floriani, José Manuel, Loza García, María Isabel, Matthies, Douglas J., Zapata-Torres, Gerald, Cassels, Bruce K.
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2020
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Santiago de Compostela (USC)
Repositorio:Minerva. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Santiago de Compostela
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:minerva.usc.gal:10347/45557
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10347/45557
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Agonists
Aromatic compounds
Crystal structure
Noncovalent interactions
Receptors
Descripción
Sumario:The human 5-HT2 receptor subtypes have high sequence identity in their orthosteric ligand-binding domain, and many agonists are poorly selective between the 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C subtypes. Nevertheless, their activation is associated with different pharmacological outcomes. We synthesized five phenethylamine analogs in which the benzene ring is replaced by a bulky dibenzo[b,d]furan moiety and found a couple with >70-fold 5-HT2C selectivity. Molecular docking studies of the most potent compound (5) at both receptor subtypes revealed the likely structural basis of its selectivity. Although in both cases, some crucial interactions are conserved, the change of the Ala2225.46 residue in the 5-HT2C receptor to the larger Ser2425.46 in the 5-HT 2A subtype, which is the only structural difference between the orthosteric binding pockets of both receptors, weakens a π−π stacking interaction between the dibenzofuran moiety and the important Phe6.52 residue and breaks a hydrogen bond between the dibenzofuran oxygen and Ser5.43 , explaining the selectivity of compound 5 for the 5-HT 2C receptor. We believe that this effect of the residue at position 5.46 merits further exploration in the search for selective 5-HT 2C receptor agonists that are of considerable interest in the treatment of schizophrenia