Molecular determinants of positive allosteric modulation of the human metabotropic glutamate receptor 2.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The activation of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGlu2 ) reduces glutamatergic transmission in brain regions where excess excitatory signalling is implicated in disorders such as anxiety and schizophrenia. Positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) can provide a fine-tuned potentiation of these receptors' function and are being investigated as a novel therapeutic approach. An extensive set of mutant human mGlu2 receptors were used to investigate the molecular determinants that are important for positive allosteric modulation at this receptor. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Site-directed mutagenesis, binding and functional assays were employed to identify amino acids important for the activity of nine PAMs. The data from the radioligand binding and mutagenesis studies were used with computational docking to predict a binding mode at an mGlu2 receptor model based on the recent structure of the mGlu1 receptor. KEY RESULTS: New amino acids in TM3 (R635, L639, F643), TM5 (L732) and TM6 (W773, F776) were identified for the first time as playing an important role in the activity of mGlu2 PAMs. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: This extensive study furthers our understanding of positive allosteric modulation of the mGlu2 receptor and can contribute to improved future design of mGlu2 PAMs.

Progress in the developement of positive allosteric modulators of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 2.

The metabotropic glutamate type 2 (mGlu2) receptor is a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) expressed on presynaptic nerve terminals where it negatively modulates glutamate and GABA release. Mixed mGlu2/mGlu3 orthosteric agonists such as LY354740 have shown activity in a range of preclinical animal models of anxiety and schizophrenia. Clinical work with LY354740 demonstrated activity in a CO(2) inhalation study suggesting application in the treatment of anxiety related disorders. Subsequently, a related prodrug LY2140023 demonstrated improvements in positive and negative symptoms in patients suffering from schizophrenia. These molecules exhibit combined mGlu2/mGlu3 activity although there is evidence from knock-out studies that preclinical anti-psychotic effects may be mediated via the mGlu2 receptor. An alternative avenue for modulating GPCRs is to act via allosteric mechanisms, binding at a different site from the orthosteric agonist. Since the first discovery of mGlu2 positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) such as 2,2,2-TEMPS and BINA, multiple families of mGlu2 modulators have been reported and several have entered into clinical development. This review focuses on recent advances in the development of novel mGlu2 PAMs by analysis of compounds disclosed in research articles and patent literature between 2007 and 2010.

2- and 3-haloalkoxy fischer carbene complexes of chromium as synthons for either hydroxycyclopropanation or oxaspirocyclopropanation of alkenes.

The thermal reaction of 2-haloethoxy- and 3-chloropropoxy(alkenyl)carbene complexes of chromium with electronically neutral alkenes furnished diastereoselectively the corresponding 1-haloalkoxy-l-vinylcyclopropanes that, subjected to subsequent halogen-lithium exchange reactions, provided vinylcyclopropanols or compounds containing the spiro[cyclopropane-tetrahydrofuran/tetrahydropyran] structure, depending on the nature of both the halogen atom and the lithiating reagent. The hydroxycyclopropanation reaction can be efficiently achieved in a one-pot fashion.