Design, Synthesis, and Pharmacological Characterization of Heterobivalent Ligands for the Putative 5-HT2A/mGlu2 Receptor Complex

J Med Chem. 2020 Sep 10;63(17):9928-9949. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01058. Epub 2020 Aug 20.

Abstract

We report the synthesis of the first series of heterobivalent ligands targeting the putative heteromeric 5-HT2A/mGlu2 receptor complex, based on the 5-HT2A antagonist MDL-100,907 and the mGlu2 ago-PAM JNJ-42491293. The functional properties of monovalent and heterobivalent ligands were characterized in 5-HT2A-, mGlu2/Gqo5-, 5-HT2A/mGlu2-, and 5-HT2A/mGlu2/Gqo5-expressing HEK293 cells using a Ca2+ imaging assay and a [3H]ketanserin binding assay. Pronounced functional crosstalk was observed between the two receptors in 5-HT2A/mGlu2 and 5-HT2A/mGlu2/Gqo5 cells. While the synthesized monovalent ligands retained the 5-HT2A antagonist and mGlu2 ago-PAM functionalities, the seven bivalent ligands inhibited 5-HT-induced responses in 5-HT2A/mGlu2 cells and both 5-HT- and Glu-induced responses in 5-HT2A/mGlu2/Gqo5 cells. However, no definitive correlation between the functional potency and spacer length of the ligands was observed, an observation substantiated by the binding affinities exhibited by the compounds in 5-HT2A, 5-HT2A/mGlu2, and 5-HT2A/mGlu2/Gqo5 cells. In conclusion, while functional crosstalk between 5-HT2A and mGlu2 was demonstrated, it remains unclear how these heterobivalent ligands interact with the putative receptor complex.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Drug Design
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Molecular Structure
  • Piperidines / chemical synthesis
  • Piperidines / metabolism
  • Piperidines / pharmacology*
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / agonists*
  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / metabolism
  • Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Antagonists / chemical synthesis
  • Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Antagonists / metabolism
  • Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Antagonists / pharmacology*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Triazoles / chemical synthesis
  • Triazoles / metabolism
  • Triazoles / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Ligands
  • Piperidines
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A
  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate
  • Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Antagonists
  • Triazoles
  • metabotropic glutamate receptor 2