Deconstruction of the ?4?2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor positive allosteric modulator desformylflustrabromine.

ABSTRACT: Desformylflustrabromine (dFBr; 1), perhaps the first selective positive allosteric modulator of ?4?2 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine (nACh) receptors, was deconstructed to determine which structural features contribute to its actions on receptors expressed in Xenopus ooycytes using two-electrode voltage clamp techniques. Although the intact structure of 1 was found to be optimal, several deconstructed analogs retained activity. Neither the 6-bromo substituent nor the entire 2-position chain is required for activity. In particular, reduction of the olefinic side chain of 1, as seen with 6, not only resulted in retention of activity/potency but in enhanced selectivity for ?4?2 versus ?7 nACh receptors. Pharmacophoric features for the allosteric modulation of ?4?2 nACh receptors by 1 were identified.

SUBMITTER: German N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3200116 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature