The Bis(1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline) Alkaloids Cepharanthine and Berbamine Are Ligands of SK Channels.

Cepharanthine, a multitarget alkaloid which has recently been shown to be effective against SARS-Cov-2, and berbamine, an alkaloid characterized as a calcium channel blocker, both share key structural elements with known small conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK) channel blockers. These structural similarities led us to evaluate their affinity for SK channels. Therefore, we performed binding on SK2 and SK3 subtypes and highlighted micromolar to sub-micromolar affinities.

The gating pore blocker 1-(2,4-xylyl)guanidinium selectively inhibits pacemaking of midbrain dopaminergic neurons.

Although several ionic mechanisms are known to control rate and regularity of the slow pacemaker in dopamine (DA) neurons, the core mechanism of pacing is controversial. Here we tested the hypothesis that pacemaking of SNc DA neurons is enabled by an unconventional conductance. We found that 1-(2,4-xylyl)guanidinium (XG), an established blocker of gating pore currents, selectively inhibits pacemaking of DA neurons.

Effects of JL13, a pyridobenzoxazepine compound, in dopaminergic and glutamatergic models of antipsychotic activity.

The pyridobenzoxazepine compound, 5-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-8-chloro-pyrido[2,3-b][1,5]benzoxazepine (JL13), has been developed as a potential antipsychotic drug. We tested the hypothesis that JL13 is efficacious in both dopaminergic and glutamatergic animal models of schizophrenia. We investigated JL13 for its efficacy to prevent cocaine- and ketamine-induced hyperlocomotion and MK-801-induced deficits in prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle reflex.

Structural Insights into 5-HT1A/D4 Selectivity of WAY-100635 Analogues: Molecular Modeling, Synthesis, and in Vitro Binding.

The resurgence of interest in 5-HT1A receptors as a therapeutic target requires the existence of highly selective 5-HT1A ligands. To date, WAY-100635 has been the prototypical antagonist of these receptors. However, this compound also has significant affinity for and activity at D4 dopamine receptors.

Chemical modifications of the N-methyl-laudanosine scaffold point to new directions for SK channels exploration.

An asparagine or a histidine are present in a similar position in the outer pore region of SK2 and SK3 channels, respectively. Therefore, this structural difference was targeted in order to develop selective blockers of SK channel subtypes. Following docking investigations, based on theoretical models of truncated SK2 and SK3 channels, the benzyl side chain of N-methyl-laudanosine (NML) was functionalized in order to target this specific amino-acid residues.

Enhancing a CH-π Interaction to Increase the Affinity for 5-HT1A Receptors.

An electrostatic interaction related to a favorable position of the distal phenyl ring and a phenylalanine residue in the binding pocket would explain the higher 5-HT1A affinity of a 4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (THP) analogue compared to the corresponding 4-phenylpiperazine analogue. To explore a possible reinforcement of this interaction to increase the affinity for 5-HT1A receptors, different 4-substituted-phenyl analogues were synthesized and tested. The most important increase of affinity is obtained with two electron-donating methyl groups in positions 3 and 5.

Bis-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolinium): a chiral scaffold for developing high-affinity ligands for SK channels.

N-Methyl-bis-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolinium) analogues derived from AG525 (1,1'-(propane-1,3-diyl)-bis-(6,7-dimethoxy-2- methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline)) stereoisomers and tetrandrine, a rigid bis-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline) analogue with an S,S configuration, were synthesized and tested for their affinity for small-conductance calcium-activated potassium channel (SK/KCa2) subtypes using radioligand binding assays. A significant increase in affinity was observed for the quaternized analogues over the parent 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline compounds. Interestingly, the impact of stereochemistry was not the same in the two groups of compounds.

The interactions of apamin and tetraethylammonium are differentially affected by single mutations in the pore mouth of small conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK) channels.

Valine residues in the pore region of SK2 (V366) and SK3 (V520) were replaced by either an alanine or a phenylalanine to evaluate the impact on the interactions with the allosteric blocker apamin. Unlike TEA which showed high sensitivity to phenylalanine mutated channels, the binding affinity of apamin to the phenylalanine mutants was strongly reduced. In addition, currents from phenylalanine mutants were largely resistant to block by apamin.

Implementation of a design space approach for enantiomeric separations in polar organic solvent chromatography.

This paper focuses on implementing a design space approach and on the critical process parameters (CPPs) to consider when applying the Quality by Design (QbD) concepts outlined in ICH Q8(R2), Q9 and Q10 to analytical method development and optimization for three chiral compounds developed as modulators of small conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK) channels. In this sense, an HPLC method using a polysaccharide-based stationary phase containing a cellulose tris (4-chloro-3-methylphenylcarbamate) chiral selector in polar organic solvent chromatography mode was considered. The effects of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and n-hexane concentration in an acetonitrile (MeCN) mobile phase were investigated under a wide range of column temperatures.

Moderate chemical modifications of WAY-100635 improve the selectivity for 5-HT1A versus D4 receptors.

The selectivity for 5-HT(1A) versus D(4) receptors is significantly increased when the basic side chain of WAY-100635 is replaced by a 4-phenylpiperazine (3e) or a 4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine moiety (3i). The 4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine compounds (3i-l) have a higher affinity for 5-HT(1A) receptors than do the corresponding unsubstituted phenylpiperazine analogues (3e-h). Compounds 3e and 3i appear to be selective for 5-HT(1A) receptors over other relevant receptors and still behave as neutral antagonists.

[Physiology, pharmacology and modelling of potassium channels: focus on SK channels].

Various types of ion channels are involved in the control of neuronal activity. Among them, SK channels represent an interesting therapeutic target. Indeed, they underlie medium duration after hyperpolarizations in many types of neurons, thus inhibiting cell excitability.

New pyridobenzoxazepine derivatives derived from 5-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-8-chloro-pyrido[2,3-b][1,5]benzoxazepine (JL13): chemical synthesis and pharmacological evaluation.

A series of new pyridobenzoxazepine derivatives with various heterocyclic amine side chains were synthesized to explore two main parameters related to the distal basic nitrogen. These compounds were tested for their affinity for dopamine D(2L) and D(4), serotonin 5-HT(1A) and 5-HT(2A), and adrenergic α(2A) receptors in comparison with 5-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-8-chloro-pyrido[2,3-b][1,5]benzoxazepine, JL13 (1), and other diarylazepine derivatives. In terms of multireceptor target strategy, 2 and 5 present the most promising in vitro binding profile.

Crucial role of a shared extracellular loop in apamin sensitivity and maintenance of pore shape of small-conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK) channels.

Activation of small-conductance calcium (Ca(2+))-dependent potassium (K(Ca)2) channels (herein called "SK") produces membrane hyperpolarization to regulate membrane excitability. Three subtypes (SK1-3) have been cloned and are distributed throughout the nervous system, smooth muscle, and heart. It is difficult to discern the physiological role of individual channel subtypes as most blockers or enhancers do not discriminate between subtypes.

Synthesis and radioligand binding studies of bis-(8-isopropyl-isoquinolinium) derivatives as ligands for apamin-sensitive sites on cloned SK2 and SK3 channels.

A structure-activity relationship study of N-methyl-laudanosine, a SK channel blocker, has indicated that the 6,7-dimethoxy group could be successfully replaced by a hydrophobic moiety such as an isopropyl substituent in position 8 of the isoquinoline ring. In the present study, bis-(8-isopropyl-isoquinolinium) derivatives (2a-e) were synthesized and tested for their affinity for cloned SK2 and SK3 channels in comparison with their 6,7-dimethoxy analogues (4a-f). Several ligands were investigated, both in flexible (propyl, butyl and pentyl) and rigid (m- or p-xylyl) series, the m-xylyl derivative (2d) having the best profile in terms of affinity and selectivity for SK3/SK2 channels.

The 5-HT(1A) agonism potential of substituted piperazine-ethyl-amide derivatives is conserved in the hexyl homologues: molecular modeling and pharmacological evaluation.

In a series of carboxamide and sulphonamide alkyl (ethyl to hexyl) piperazine analogues, although the size of the linker is very different, ethyl and hexyl derivatives possess a high affinity for 5-HT(1A) receptors. Docking studies clearly show that hexyl and ethyl compounds favorably interact with the binding site of the active conformation of 5-HT(1A) receptors, thus confirming a possible agonist profile. This activity is effectively detected in electrophysiological experiments in which all four compounds inhibit the activity of rat dorsal raphe serotonergic neurons.

Ion-channel modulators: more diversity than previously thought.

Ion-channel function can be modified in various ways. For example, numerous studies have shown that currents through voltage-gated ion channels are affected by pore block or modification of voltage dependence of activation/inactivation. Recent experiments performed on various ion channels show that allosteric modulation is an important mechanism for affecting channel function.

Interaction of clozapine and its nitrenium ion with rat D2 dopamine receptors: in vitro binding and computational study.

The interaction of diazepine analogues like clozapine or olanzapine with D2 receptor was greatly affected by a mixture of HRP/H(2)O(2) known to induce the formation of nitrenium ion. Unlike diazepine derivatives, the oxidative mixture had low impact on the affinity of oxa- and thiazepine derivatives such as loxapine, clothiapine or JL13 for the D2 receptor. Molecular docking simulations revealed a huge difference between the mode of interaction of clozapine nitrenium ion and the parent drug.

Synthesis and in vitro binding studies of piperazine-alkyl-naphthamides: impact of homology and sulphonamide/carboxamide bioisosteric replacement on the affinity for 5-HT1A, alpha2A, D4.2, D3 and D2L receptors.

A series of carboxamide and sulphonamide alkyl(ethyl to hexyl)piperazine analogues were prepared and tested for their affinity to bind to a range of receptors potentially involved in psychiatric disorders. These chemical modifications led us to explore the impact of homology and bioisosteric replacement of the amide group. All of these compounds possessed a high affinity for 5-HT(1A) receptors, irrespective of the size of the linker, the carboxamide derivative with a pentyl linker had the highest affinity for alpha(2A) receptor sites and also a high affinity for 5-HT(1A) and D3 receptors.

Allosteric block of KCa2 channels by apamin.

Activation of small conductance calcium-activated potassium (K(Ca)2) channels can regulate neuronal firing and synaptic plasticity. They are characterized by their high sensitivity to the bee venom toxin apamin, but the mechanism of block is not understood. For example, apamin binds to both K(Ca)2.

The sigma agonist 1,3-di-o-tolyl-guanidine directly blocks SK channels in dopaminergic neurons and in cell lines.

Small conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (SK) channels are widely expressed in the brain and underlie medium-duration afterhyperpolarizations (mAHPs) in many types of neurons. It was recently reported that the activation of sigma-1 (sigma(1)) receptors inhibits SK currents in rat hippocampus. Because many interactions between sigma receptors and brain dopaminergic systems have been reported, we set out to examine putative effects of sigma receptor ligands on the SK mediated mAHP in midbrain dopaminergic neurons.

Bis-tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives: structure analysis of the three stereoisomers of 1,1'-(propane-1,3-diyl)-bis-(6,7-dimethoxy-2-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline).

Crystal structure of the three stereoisomers of 1,1'-(propane-1,3-diyl)-bis-(6,7-dimethoxy-2-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline) hydrochloride after resolution by semi-preparative chiral HPLC establishes the absolute configuration and conformation.

Molecular modeling study of 4-phenylpiperazine and 4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine derivatives: a new step towards the design of high-affinity 5-HT1A ligands.

The main feature of many drugs having a 5-HT(1A) affinity is the presence of an arylpiperazine moiety. Indeed, the protonated nitrogen and the aromatic ring of the arylpiperazine compounds are considered crucial for the interaction with the receptor. However, the replacement of the piperazine moiety by a 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine ring in 4-arylpiperazine-ethyl carboxamide derivatives was recently shown to be highly favourable for 5-HT(1A) affinity.

SK channel blockade promotes burst firing in dorsal raphe serotonergic neurons.

Previous in vivo studies have shown that blockade of small-conductance Ca(2+)-activated potassium (SK) channels enhances burst firing in dopaminergic neurons. As bursting has been found to be physiologically relevant for the synaptic release of serotonin (5-HT), we investigated the possible role of SK channels in the control of this firing pattern in 5-HT neurons of the dorsal raphe nucleus. In these cells, bursts are usually composed of doublets consisting of action potentials separated by a small interval (< 20 ms).

Bis-tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives: AG525E1, a new step in the search for non-quaternary non-peptidic small conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channel blockers.

So far, small conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channel (SK) blockers mostly consist of quaternary ammonium derivatives or peptides. Due to their physicochemical properties, these blockers are not suitable to study the physiological roles of SK channels in the central nervous system in vivo. Herein, we report the discovery of a chiral bis-tertiary amine with SK blocking properties from chemical modulation of laudanosine.