Development of Covalent, Clickable Probes for Adenosine A1 and A3 Receptors

J Med Chem. 2021 Jun 24;64(12):8161-8178. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c02169. Epub 2021 Jun 14.

Abstract

Adenosine receptors are attractive therapeutic targets for multiple conditions, including ischemia-reperfusion injury and neuropathic pain. Adenosine receptor drug discovery efforts would be facilitated by the development of appropriate tools to assist in target validation and direct receptor visualization in different native environments. We report the development of the first bifunctional (chemoreactive and clickable) ligands for the adenosine A1 receptor (A1R) and adenosine A3 receptor (A3R) based on an orthosteric antagonist xanthine-based scaffold and on an existing structure-activity relationship. Bifunctional ligands were functional antagonists with nanomolar affinity and irreversible binding at the A1R and A3R. In-depth pharmacological profiling of these bifunctional ligands showed moderate selectivity over A2A and A2B adenosine receptors. Once bound to the receptor, ligands were successfully "clicked" with a cyanine-5 fluorophore containing the complementary "click" partner, enabling receptor detection. These bifunctional ligands are expected to aid in the understanding of A1R and A3R localization and trafficking in native cells and living systems.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine A1 Receptor Antagonists / chemical synthesis
  • Adenosine A1 Receptor Antagonists / pharmacology*
  • Adenosine A3 Receptor Antagonists / chemical synthesis
  • Adenosine A3 Receptor Antagonists / pharmacology*
  • Alkynes / chemistry
  • Animals
  • Azides / chemistry
  • CHO Cells
  • Click Chemistry
  • Cricetulus
  • Drug Design
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Molecular Probes / chemical synthesis
  • Molecular Probes / pharmacology*
  • Receptor, Adenosine A1 / chemistry
  • Receptor, Adenosine A1 / metabolism*
  • Receptor, Adenosine A3 / chemistry
  • Receptor, Adenosine A3 / metabolism*
  • Xanthines / chemical synthesis
  • Xanthines / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Adenosine A1 Receptor Antagonists
  • Adenosine A3 Receptor Antagonists
  • Alkynes
  • Azides
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Ligands
  • Molecular Probes
  • Receptor, Adenosine A1
  • Receptor, Adenosine A3
  • Xanthines