The recent crystal structure of the κ-opioid receptor (κ-OR) revealed, unexpectedly, that the antagonist JDTic is a bivalent ligand: in addition to the orthosteric pocket occupied by morphinans, JDTic also occupies a distinct (allotopic) pocket. Mutagenesis data suggest that salvinorin A (1) also binds to this allotopic pocket, adjacent to the aspartate residue that anchors the basic nitrogen atom of classical opiates (Asp138). It has been suggested that an H-bond donor appended to 1 might interact with Asp138, increasing affinity. Such a bivalent ligand might also possess altered functional selectivity. Based on modeling and known N-furanylmethyl opioid antagonists, we appended H-bond donors to the furan ring of 1. (Dimethylamino)methyl groups at C-15 or C-16 abolished affinity for κ-OR. Hydroxymethylation at C-16 was tolerated, but 15,16-bis-hydroxymethylation was not. Since allosteric modulators may go undetected in binding assays, we also tested these and other low-affinity derivatives of 1 for allosteric modulation of dynorphin A in the [35S]GTPγS assay. No modulation was detected. As an alternative attachment point for bivalent derivatives, we prepared the 2-(hydroxyethoxy)methyl ether, which retained high affinity for κ-OR. We discuss alternative design strategies for linked, fused or merged bivalent derivatives of 1.
最近的κ-阿片受体(κ-OR)的晶体结构揭示,出乎意料地,拮抗剂JDTic是一种双价配体:除了被吗啡类药物占据的正交袋外,JDTic还占据一个独特的(异位)口袋。突变数据表明,沙尔维诺林A(1)也结合到这个与经典阿片碱(Asp138)的碱性氮原子锚定的天冬氨酸残基相邻的异位口袋。有人建议,附加到1上的H键给体可能与Asp138相互作用,增加亲和力。这样的双价配体也可能具有改变的功能选择性。基于建模和已知的N-呋喃基甲基阿片拮抗剂,我们在1的呋喃环上附加了H键给体。在C-15或C-16处的二甲胺基甲基基团消除了对κ-OR的亲和力。在C-16处的羟甲基化是可以容忍的,但15,16-双羟甲基化则不行。由于配体调控剂可能在结合分析中未被检测到,我们还测试了这些以及其他对1的低亲和力衍生物对在[35S]GTPγS测定中对dynorphin A的配位调节作用。未检测到调节作用。作为双价衍生物的替代附着点,我们制备了2-(羟乙氧基)甲基醚,它保持了对κ-OR的高亲和力。我们讨论了关于1的联接、融合或合并的双价衍生物的替代设计策略。