Design, synthesis, and evaluation of substituted alkylindoles that activate G protein-coupled receptors distinct from the cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors.

The alkylindole (AI), WIN55212-2, modulates the activity of several proteins, including cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2 (CB1R, CB2R), and at least additional G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that remains uncharacterized with respect to its molecular identity and pharmacological profile. Evidence suggests that such AI-sensitive GPCRs are expressed by the human kidney cell line HEK293. We synthesized fourteen novel AI analogues and evaluated their activities at AI-sensitive GPCRs using [35S]GTPγS and [3H]WIN55212-2 binding in HEK293 cell membranes, and performed in silico pharmacophore modeling to identify characteristics that favor binding to AI-sensitive GPCRs versus CB1R/CB2R. Compounds 10 and 12 stimulated [35S]GTPγS binding (EC50s = 3.5 and 1.1 nM, respectively), and this response was pertussis toxin-sensitive, indicating that AI-sensitive GPCRs couple to Gi/o proteins. Five AI analogues reliably distinguished two binding sites that correspond to the high and low affinity state of AI-sensitive GPCRs coupled or not to G proteins. In silico pharmacophore modeling suggest 3 characteristics that favor binding to AI-sensitive GPCRs versus CB1R/CB2R: 1) an s-cis orientation of the two aromatic rings in AI analogues, 2) a narrow dihedral angle between the carbonyl group and the indole ring plane [i.e., O-C(carbonyl)-C3-C2] and 3) the presence of a carbonyl oxygen. The substituted alkylindoles reported here represent novel chemical tools to study AI-sensitive GPCRs.

Thienopyrimidine Derivatives as GPR55 Receptor Antagonists: Insight into Structure-Activity Relationship.

GPR55 is an orphan G-protein coupled receptor involved in various pathophysiological conditions. However, there are only a few noncannabinoid GPR55 ligands reported so far. The lack of potent and selective GPR55 ligands precludes a deep exploration of this receptor. The studies presented here focused on a thienopyrimidine scaffold based on the GPR55 antagonist ML192, previously discovered by high-throughput screening. The GPR55 activities of the new synthesized compounds were assessed using ß-arrestin recruitment assays in Chinese hamster ovary cells overexpressing human GPR55. Some derivatives were identified as GPR55 antagonists with functional efficacy and selectivity versus CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors.

The NPXXY Motif Regulates ß-Arrestin Recruitment by the CB1 Cannabinoid Receptor.

Background: Activation of signaling effectors by G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) depends on different molecular mechanisms triggered by conserved amino acid residues. Although studies have focused on the G-protein signaling state, the mechanism for ß-arrestin signaling by CB1 is not yet well defined. Studies have indicated that transmembrane helix 7 (TMH7) and the highly conserved NPXXY motif can be subject to different conformational changes in response to biased ligands and could therefore participate in a molecular mechanism to trigger ß-arrestin recruitment. Objective: To investigate the effect of mutations in the NPXXY motif on different signaling pathways activated by the CB1 receptor. Materials and Methods: Point mutations of the NPXXY motif and associated residues were generated in the CB1 receptor using site-directed mutagenesis and transfection into HEK-293 cells. Signaling by wild-type and mutant receptors was analyzed by quantifying inhibition of cAMP, and by ß-arrestin recruitment assays. Results: We found that N7.49 and Y7.53 are essential for ß-arrestin recruitment by CB1. N7.49A and Y7.53F impair ß-arrestin signaling, with no effect on G-protein signaling. We found a regulatory role for residue I2.43; I2.43 interacts with Y7.53, affecting its positioning. Reducing steric bulk at I2.43 (I2.43A) enhances ß-arrestin1 recruitment, while introducing a polar residue (I2.43T) reduces ß-arrestin recruitment. Conclusions: These findings point to a novel mechanism for ß-arrestin recruitment, implicating amino acids in the NPXXY motif as critical for the putative ß-arrestin biased conformational state of Class A GPCRs.

Pharmacological evaluation of enantiomerically separated positive allosteric modulators of cannabinoid 1 receptor, GAT591 and GAT593.

Positive allosteric modulation of the type 1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1R) has substantial potential to treat both neurological and immune disorders. To date, a few studies have evaluated the structure-activity relationship (SAR) for CB1R positive allosteric modulators (PAMs). In this study, we separated the enantiomers of the previously characterized two potent CB1R ago-PAMs GAT591 and GAT593 to determine their biochemical activity at CB1R. Separating the enantiomers showed that the R-enantiomers (GAT1665 and GAT1667) displayed mixed allosteric agonist-PAM activity at CB1R while the S-enantiomers (GAT1664 and GAT1666) showed moderate activity. Furthermore, we observed that the R and S-enantiomers had distinct binding sites on CB1R, which led to their distinct behavior both in vitro and in vivo. The R-enantiomers (GAT1665 and GAT1667) produced ago-PAM effects in vitro, and PAM effects in the in vivo behavioral triad, indicating that the in vivo activity of these ligands may occur via PAM rather than agonist-based mechanisms. Overall, this study provides mechanistic insight into enantiospecific interaction of 2-phenylindole class of CB1R allosteric modulators, which have shown therapeutic potential in the treatment of pain, epilepsy, glaucoma, and Huntington's disease.

TRPV1 Activation by Anandamide via a Unique Lipid Pathway.

The capsaicin receptor, transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1), is a polymodal channel that has been implicated in the perception of pain and can be modulated by a variety of cannabinoid ligands. Here we report TRPV1 channel activation by the endocannabinoid, anandamide (AEA), in a unique, peripheral binding site via extended MD simulations. These results aim to expand the understanding of TRPV1 and assist in the development of new TRPV1 modulators.

Discovery of a Biased Allosteric Modulator for Cannabinoid 1 Receptor: Preclinical Anti-Glaucoma Efficacy.

We apply the magic methyl effect to improve the potency/efficacy of GAT211, the prototypic 2-phenylindole-based cannabinoid type-1 receptor (CB1R) agonist-positive allosteric modulator (ago-PAM). Introducing a methyl group at the α-position of nitro group generated two diastereomers, the greater potency and efficacy of erythro, (±)-9 vs threo, (±)-10 constitutes the first demonstration of diastereoselective CB1R-allosteric modulator interaction. Of the (±)-9 enantiomers, (-)-(S,R)-13 evidenced improved potency over GAT211 as a CB1R ago-PAM, whereas (+)-(R,S)-14 was a CB1R allosteric agonist biased toward G protein- vs ß-arrestin1/2-dependent signaling. (-)-(S,R)-13 and (+)-(R,S)-14 were devoid of undesirable side effects (triad test), and (+)-(R,S)-14 reduced intraocular pressure with an unprecedentedly long duration of action in a murine glaucoma model. (-)-(S,R)-13 docked into both a CB1R extracellular PAM and intracellular allosteric-agonist site(s), whereas (+)-(R,S)-14 preferentially engaged only the latter. Exploiting G-protein biased CB1R-allosteric modulation can offer safer therapeutic candidates for glaucoma and, potentially, other diseases.

Therapeutic Exploitation of GPR18: Beyond the Cannabinoids?

GPR18 is a G-protein-coupled receptor that belongs to the orphan class A family. Even though it shares low sequence homology with the cannabinoid receptors CB1R and CB2R, a growing body of research suggests its relationship with the endocannabinoid system, not only because it is able to recognize cannabinoid ligands but also because of its expression and ability to heteromerize with CBRs. In this review, we aim to analyze the biological relevance, reported modulators, and structural features of GPR18. In order to guide future drug design in this field, highlights from molecular modeling of GPR18 will be provided.

A Closer Look at Anandamide Interaction With TRPV1.

The transient receptor potential subfamily vanilloid type 1 ion channel (TRPV1), located in the peripheral nervous system has been implicated in the perception of pain and possesses the ability to be modulated by various cannabinoid ligands. Because of its location, TRPV1 is an ideal target for the development of novel pain therapeutics. Literature precedent suggests a wide range of cannabinoid ligands can activate TRPV1, but the location and mode of entry is not well understood. Understanding the modes in which cannabinoids can enter and bind to TRPV1 can aid in rational drug design. The first endogenous ligand identified for TRPV1 was the endocannabinoid, anandamide (AEA). The Molecular Dynamics (MD) studies discussed here investigate the entry mode of AEA into TRPV1. During the course of the 10+ microsecond MD simulations, two distinct binding modes were observed: AEA binding in the tunnel formed by the S1-S4 region, and AEA binding in the vanilloid binding pocket, with preference for the former. Unbiased MD simulations have revealed multiple spontaneous binding events into the S1-S4 region, with only one event of AEA binding the vanilloid binding pocket. These results suggest that AEA enters TRPV1 via a novel location between helices S1-S4 via the lipid bilayer.

GPR6 Structural Insights: Homology Model Construction and Docking Studies.

GPR6 is an orphan G protein-coupled receptor that has been associated with the cannabinoid family because of its recognition of a sub-set of cannabinoid ligands. The high abundance of GPR6 in the central nervous system, along with high constitutive activity and a link to several neurodegenerative diseases make GPR6 a promising biological target. In fact, diverse research groups have demonstrated that GPR6 represents a possible target for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and Huntington's disease. Several patents have claimed the use of a wide range of pyrazine derivatives as GPR6 inverse agonists for the treatment of Parkinson's disease symptoms and other dyskinesia syndromes. However, the full pharmacological importance of GPR6 has not yet been fully explored due to the lack of high potency, readily available ligands targeting GPR6. The long-term goal of the present study is to develop such ligands. In this paper, we describe our initial steps towards this goal. A human GPR6 homology model was constructed using a suite of computational techniques. This model permitted the identification of unique GPR6 structural features and the exploration of the GPR6 binding crevice. A subset of patented pyrazine analogs were docked in the resultant GPR6 inactive state model to validate the model, rationalize the structure-activity relationships from the reported patents and identify the key residues in the binding crevice for ligand recognition. We will take this structural knowledge into the next phase of GPR6 project, in which scaffold hopping will be used to design new GPR6 ligands.

The Nucleotide-Free State of the Cannabinoid CB2/Gi Complex.

In this issue of Cell, two papers report agonist-bound cryo-EM structures of the cannabinoid receptor, CB2, in complex with Gi. Importantly, beyond providing information that could help distinguish CB2 ligand binding from CB1, these structures support the existence of a nucleotide-free state during G-protein signaling.

Application of Fluorine- and Nitrogen-Walk Approaches: Defining the Structural and Functional Diversity of 2-Phenylindole Class of Cannabinoid 1 Receptor Positive Allosteric Modulators.

Cannabinoid 1 receptor (CB1R) allosteric ligands hold a far-reaching therapeutic promise. We report the application of fluoro- and nitrogen-walk approaches to enhance the drug-like properties of GAT211, a prototype CB1R allosteric agonist-positive allosteric modulator (ago-PAM). Several analogs exhibited improved functional potency (cAMP, ß-arrestin 2), metabolic stability, and aqueous solubility. Two key analogs, GAT591 (6r) and GAT593 (6s), exhibited augmented allosteric-agonist and PAM activities in neuronal cultures, improved metabolic stability, and enhanced orthosteric agonist binding (CP55,940). Both analogs also exhibited good analgesic potency in the CFA inflammatory-pain model with longer duration of action over GAT211 while being devoid of adverse cannabimimetic effects. Another analog, GAT592 (9j), exhibited moderate ago-PAM potency and improved aqueous solubility with therapeutic reduction of intraocular pressure in murine glaucoma models. The SAR findings and the enhanced allosteric activity in this class of allosteric modulators were accounted for in our recently developed computational model for CB1R allosteric activation and positive allosteric modulation.

Identification of CB1 Receptor Allosteric Sites Using Force-Biased MMC Simulated Annealing and Validation by Structure-Activity Relationship Studies.

Positive allosteric modulation of the cannabinoid 1 receptor (CB1R) has demonstrated distinct therapeutic advantages that address several limitations associated with orthosteric agonism and has opened a promising therapeutic avenue for further drug development. To advance the development of CB1R positive allosteric modulators, it is important to understand the molecular architecture of CB1R allosteric site(s). The goal of this work was to use Force-Biased MMC Simulated Annealing to identify binding sites for GAT228 (R), a partial allosteric agonist, and GAT229 (S), a positive allosteric modulator (PAM) at the CB1R. Our studies suggest that GAT228 binds in an intracellular (IC) TMH1-2-4 exosite that would allow this compound to act as a CB1 allosteric agonist as well as a CB1 PAM. In contrast, GAT229 binds at the extracellular (EC) ends of TMH2/3, just beneath the EC1 loop. At this site, this compound can act as CB1 PAM only. Finally, these results were successfully validated through the synthesis and biochemical evaluation of a focused library of compounds.

Towards A Molecular Understanding of The Cannabinoid Related Orphan Receptor GPR18: A Focus on Its Constitutive Activity.

The orphan G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR), GPR18, has been recently proposed as a potential member of the cannabinoid family as it recognizes several endogenous, phytogenic, and synthetic cannabinoids. Potential therapeutic applications for GPR18 include intraocular pressure, metabolic disorders, and cancer. GPR18 has been reported to have high constitutive activity, i.e., activation/signaling occurs in the absence of an agonist. This activity can be reduced significantly by the A3.39N mutation. At the intracellular (IC) ends of (transmembrane helices) TMH3 and TMH6 in GPCRs, typically, a pair of oppositely charged amino acids form a salt bridge called the "ionic lock". Breaking of this salt bridge creates an IC opening for coupling with G protein. The GPR18 "ionic lock" residues (R3.50/S6.33) can form only a hydrogen bond. In this paper, we test the hypothesis that the high constitutive activity of GPR18 is due to the weakness of its "ionic lock" and that the A3.39N mutation strengthens this lock. To this end, we report molecular dynamics simulations of wild-type (WT) GPR18 and the A3.39N mutant in fully hydrated (POPC) phophatidylcholine lipid bilayers. Results suggest that in the A3.39N mutant, TMH6 rotates and brings R3.50 and S6.33 closer together, thus strengthening the GPR18 "ionic lock".

( R)- N-(1-Methyl-2-hydroxyethyl)-13-( S)-methyl-arachidonamide (AMG315): A Novel Chiral Potent Endocannabinoid Ligand with Stability to Metabolizing Enzymes.

The synthesis of potent metabolically stable endocannabinoids is challenging. Here we report a chiral arachidonoyl ethanolamide (AEA) analogue, namely, (13 S,1' R)-dimethylanandamide (AMG315, 3a), a high affinity ligand for the CB1 receptor ( Ki of 7.8 ± 1.4 nM) that behaves as a potent CB1 agonist in vitro (EC50 = 0.6 ± 0.2 nM). (13 S,1' R)-dimethylanandamide is the first potent AEA analogue with significant stability for all endocannabinoid hydrolyzing enzymes as well as the oxidative enzymes COX-2. When tested in vivo using the CFA-induced inflammatory pain model, 3a behaved as a more potent analgesic when compared to endogenous AEA or its hydrolytically stable analogue AM356. This novel analogue will serve as a very useful endocannabinoid probe.

Synthesis, Pharmacological Evaluation, and Docking Studies of Novel Pyridazinone-Based Cannabinoid Receptor Type†2 Ligands.

In recent years, cannabinoid type 2 receptors (CB2 R) have emerged as promising therapeutic targets in a wide variety of diseases. Selective ligands of CB2 R are devoid of the psychoactive effects typically observed for CB1 R ligands. Based on our recent studies on a class of pyridazinone 4-carboxamides, further structural modifications of the pyridazinone core were made to better investigate the structure-activity relationships for this promising scaffold with the aim to develop potent CB2 R ligands. In binding assays, two of the new synthesized compounds [6-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-(4-fluorobenzyl)-cis-N-(4-methylcyclohexyl)-3-oxo-2,3-dihydropyridazine-4-carboxamide (2) and 6-(4-chloro-3-methylphenyl)-cis-N-(4-methylcyclohexyl)-3-oxo-2-pentyl-2,3-dihydropyridazine-4-carboxamide (22)] showed high CB2 R affinity, with Ki values of 2.1 and 1.6 nm, respectively. In addition, functional assays of these compounds and other new active related derivatives revealed their pharmacological profiles as CB2 R inverse agonists. Compound 22 displayed the highest CB2 R selectivity and potency, presenting a favorable in silico pharmacokinetic profile. Furthermore, a molecular modeling study revealed how 22 produces inverse agonism through blocking the movement of the toggle-switch residue, W6.48.

Up in Smoke: Uncovering a Lack of Evidence for Proton Pump Inhibitors as a Source of Tetrahydrocannabinol Immunoassay False Positives.

Objective: It is recommended that positives in immunoassay drug screens be followed up with more specific confirmatory testing. The drug package insert for pantoprazole mentions reports of false-positive urine screening tests for tetrahydrocannabinol in patients receiving proton pump inhibitors, but no method details or data are given, referenced, or found in literature searches. Thus, we investigated this using our laboratory's assay. Methods: A spiked sample and samples from 32 patients taking a proton pump inhibitor were analyzed using the EMIT II Plus Cannabinoid assay with a 20 ng/mL cutoff. Additionally, we examined urine samples from 50 patients with false-positive or low-positive screens for evidence of a proton pump inhibitor. To determine whether O-desmethyl pantoprazole sulfate, the major metabolite, shares any structural or electrostatic similarity to suggest a basis for cross-reactivity in the immunoassay, we used computational techniques for analyses. Molecular electrostatic potential energy (MEP) maps were calculated for the global minimum conformers, and the maximum common substructure Tanimoto similarity was calculated for the modeled compounds. Results: Neither the spiked sample nor the patient samples were found to screen positive. None of the false-positive or low-positive screens were found to contain a proton pump inhibitor. Computational studies showed very little similarity in shape or electrostatics between the two molecules. Conclusions: We find no supporting evidence of pantoprazole as the cause of false positives in the EMIT II Plus Cannabinoid assay and caution the use of proton pump inhibitors as an explanation for tetrahydrocannabinol immunoassay false positives.

Methods for the Development of In Silico GPCR Models.

The Reggio group has constructed computer models of the inactive and G-protein-activated states of the cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors, as well as, several orphan receptors that recognize a subset of cannabinoid compounds, including GPR55 and GPR18. These models have been used to design ligands, mutations, and covalent labeling studies. The resultant second-generation models have been used to design ligands with improved affinity, efficacy, and subtype selectivity. Herein, we provide a guide for the development of GPCR models using the most recent orphan receptor studied in our lab, GPR3. GPR3 is an orphan receptor that belongs to the Class A family of G-protein-coupled receptors. It shares high sequence similarity with GPR6, GPR12, the lysophospholipid receptors, and the cannabinoid receptors. GPR3 is predominantly expressed in mammalian brain and oocytes and it is known as a Gαs-coupled receptor activated constitutively in cells. GPR3 represents a possible target for the treatment of different pathological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, oocyte maturation, or neuropathic pain. However, the lack of potent and selective GPR3 ligands is delaying the exploitation of this promising therapeutic target. In this context, we aim to develop a homology model that helps us to elucidate the structural determinants governing ligand-receptor interactions at GPR3. In this chapter, we detail the methods and rationale behind the construction of the GPR3 active-and inactive-state models. These homology models will enable the rational design of novel ligands, which may serve as research tools for further understanding of the biological role of GPR3.

Molecular Dynamics Methodologies for Probing Cannabinoid Ligand/Receptor Interaction.

The cannabinoid type 1 and 2 G-protein-coupled receptors are currently important pharmacological targets with significant drug discovery potential. These receptors have been shown to display functional selectivity or biased agonism, a property currently thought to have substantial therapeutic potential. Although recent advances in crystallization techniques have provided a wealth of structural information about this important class of membrane-embedded proteins, these structures lack dynamical information. In order to fully understand the interplay of structure and function for this important class of proteins, complementary techniques that address the dynamical aspects of their function are required such as NMR as well as a variety of other spectroscopies. Complimentary to these experimental approaches is molecular dynamics, which has been effectively used to help unravel, at the atomic level, the dynamics of ligand binding and activation of these membrane-bound receptors. Here, we discuss and present several representative examples of the application of molecular dynamics simulations to the understanding of the signatures of ligand-binding and -biased signaling at the cannabinoid type 1 and 2 receptors.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of GPR55 agonists.

GPR55, a G protein-coupled receptor, is an attractive target to alleviate inflammatory and neuropathic pain and treat osteoporosis and cancer. Identifying a potent and selective ligand will aid to further establish the specific physiological roles and pharmacology of the receptor. Towards this goal, a targeted library of 22 compounds was synthesized in a modular fashion to obtain structure-activity relationship information. The general route consisted of coupling a variety of p-aminophenyl sulfonamides to isothiocyanates to form acylthioureas. For the synthesis of a known naphthyl ethyl alcohol motif, route modification led to a shorter and more efficient process. The 22 analogues were analyzed for their ability to serve as agonists at GPR55 and valuable information for both ends of the molecule was ascertained.

Molecular Targets of the Phytocannabinoids: A Complex Picture.

For centuries, hashish and marihuana, both derived from the Indian hemp Cannabis sativa L., have been used for their medicinal, as well as, their psychotropic effects. These effects are associated with the phytocannabinoids which are oxygen containing C21 aromatic hydrocarbons found in Cannabis sativa L. To date, over 120 phytocannabinoids have been isolated from Cannabis. For many years, it was assumed that the beneficial effects of the phytocannabinoids were mediated by the cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2. However, today we know that the picture is much more complex, with the same phytocannabinoid acting at multiple targets. This contribution focuses on the molecular pharmacology of the phytocannabinoids, including Δ9-THC and CBD, from the prospective of the targets at which these important compounds act.