ABSTRACT
The cannabinoid CB1 receptor is involved in complex physiological functions. The discovery of CB1 allosteric modulators generates new opportunities for drug discovery targeting the pharmacologically important CB1 receptor. 5-Chloro-3-ethyl-N-(4-(piperidin-1-yl)phenethyl)-1H-indole-2-carboxamide (ORG27569; 1) represents a new class of indole-2-carboxamides that exhibit allostery of CB1. To better understand the SAR, a group of indole-2-carboxamide analogues were synthesized and assessed for allostery of the CB1 receptor. We found that within the structure of indole-2-carboxamides, the presence of the indole ring is preferred for maintaining the modulator's high binding affinity for the allosteric site but not for generating allostery on the orthosteric site. However, the C3 substituents of the indole-2-carboxamides significantly impact the allostery of the ligand. A robust CB1 allosteric modulator 5-chloro-N-(4-(dimethylamino)phenethyl)-3-pentyl-1H-indole-2-carboxamide (11j) was identified. It showed an equilibrium dissociation constant (KB) of 167.3 nM with a markedly high binding cooperativity factor (α = 16.55) and potent antagonism of agonist-induced GTPγS binding.
Subject(s)
Indoles/chemistry , Indoles/pharmacology , Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/metabolism , Allosteric Regulation/drug effects , Binding, Competitive , HEK293 Cells , Humans , Indoles/chemical synthesis , Kinetics , Models, Chemical , Molecular Structure , Piperidines/chemistry , Piperidines/pharmacology , Radioligand Assay , Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/genetics , Structure-Activity RelationshipABSTRACT
Allosteric modulation of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) represents a novel approach for fine-tuning GPCR functions. The cannabinoid CB1 receptor, a GPCR associated with the CNS, has been implicated in the treatment of drug addiction, pain, and appetite disorders. We report here the synthesis and pharmacological characterization of two indole-2-carboxamides:5-chloro-3-ethyl-1-methyl-N-(4-(piperidin-1-yl)phenethyl)-1H-indole-2-carboxamide (ICAM-a) and 5-chloro-3-pentyl-N-(4-(piperidin-1-yl)phenethyl)-1H-indole-2-carboxamide (ICAM-b). Although both ICAM-a and ICAM-b enhanced CP55, 940 binding, ICAM-b exhibited the strongest positive cooperativity thus far demonstrated for enhancing agonist binding to the CB1 receptor. Although it displayed negative modulatory effects on G-protein coupling to CB1, ICAM-b induced ß-arrestin-mediated downstream activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling. These results indicate that this compound represents a novel class of CB1 ligands that produce biased signaling via CB1.
