Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters
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Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. · Jan 2012
Differential signaling properties at the kappa opioid receptor of 12-epi-salvinorin A and its analogues.
The kappa opioid receptor (KOPR) has been identified as a potential drug target to prevent or alter the course of mood, anxiety and addictive disorders or reduce response to stress. In a search for highly potent and selective KOPR partial agonists as pharmacological tools, we have modified 12-epi-salvinorin A, a compound which we have previously observed to be a KOPR partial agonist. ⋯ Other salvinorin analogues tested in these functional assays were full agonists in both assays of KOPR activation. By comparison, the non-selective opioid ligand nalbuphine, known to be a partial agonist for G-protein activation, was also a partial agonist for the β-arrestin mediated signaling pathway activated through KOPR.
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Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. · Oct 2011
Synthesis and biological evaluation of 4-piperidinecarboxylate and 4-piperidinecyanide derivatives for T-type calcium channel blockers.
To obtain selective and potent inhibitor for T-type calcium channel by ligand based drug design, 4-piperidinecarboxylate and 4-piperidinecyanide derivatives were prepared and evaluated for in vitro and in vivo activity against α(1G) calcium channel. Among them, several compounds showed good T-type calcium channel inhibitory activity and minimal off-target activity over hERG channel (% inhibition at 10 μM=61.85-71.99, hERG channel IC(50)=1.57 ± 0.14-4.98 ± 0.36 μM). Selected compound 31a was evaluated on SNL model of neuropathic pain and showed inhibitory effect on mechanical allodynia.
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Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. · Sep 2011
Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of pyrazolopyrimidine-sulfonamides as potent multiple-mitotic kinase (MMK) inhibitors (part I).
A novel class of pyrazolopyrimidine-sulfonamides was discovered as selective dual inhibitors of aurora kinase A (AKA) and cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1). These inhibitors were originally designed based on an early lead (compound I). SAR development has led to the discovery of potent inhibitors with single digit nM IC(50)s towards both AKA and CDK1. An exemplary compound 1a has demonstrated good efficacy in an HCT116 colon cancer xenograft model.
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Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. · May 2011
Discovery and optimization of a novel, selective and brain penetrant M1 positive allosteric modulator (PAM): the development of ML169, an MLPCN probe.
This Letter describes a chemical lead optimization campaign directed at VU0108370, a weak M(1) PAM hit with a novel chemical scaffold from a functional HTS screen within the MLPCN. An iterative parallel synthesis approach rapidly established SAR for this series and afforded VU0405652 (ML169), a potent, selective and brain penetrant M(1) PAM with an in vitro profile comparable to the prototypical M(1) PAM, BQCA, but with an improved brain to plasma ratio.
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Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. · Apr 2011
Discovery of non-peptide, small molecule antagonists of α9α10 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors as novel analgesics for the treatment of neuropathic and tonic inflammatory pain.
A series of azaaromatic quaternary ammonium analogs has been discovered as potent and selective α9α10 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) antagonists. The preliminary structure-activity relationships of these analogs suggest that increased rigidity in the linker units results in higher potency in inhibition of α9α10 nAChRs and greater selectivity over α7 nAChRs. These analogs represent a new class of analgesic for the treatment of neuropathic and tonic inflammatory pain.