Potent and Subtype-Selective Dopamine D2 Receptor Biased Partial Agonists Discovered via an Ugi-Based Approach

J Med Chem. 2021 Jun 24;64(12):8710-8726. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00704. Epub 2021 Jun 10.

Abstract

Using a previously unexplored, efficient, and versatile multicomponent method, we herein report the rapid generation of novel potent and subtype-selective DRD2 biased partial agonists. This strategy exemplifies the search for diverse and previously unexplored moieties for the secondary/allosteric pharmacophore of the common phenyl-piperazine scaffold. The pharmacological characterization of the new compound series led to the identification of several ligands with excellent DRD2 affinity and subtype selectivity and remarkable functional selectivity for either the cAMP (22a and 24d) or the β-arrestin (27a and 29c) signaling pathways. These results were further interpreted on the basis of molecular models of these ligands in complex with the recent DRD2 crystal structures, highlighting the critical role of the secondary/allosteric pharmacophore in modulating the functional selectivity profile.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cyclic AMP / metabolism
  • Drug Design
  • Drug Partial Agonism
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Molecular Structure
  • Piperazines / chemical synthesis
  • Piperazines / metabolism
  • Piperazines / pharmacology*
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2 / agonists*
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2 / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • beta-Arrestins / metabolism

Substances

  • Piperazines
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2
  • beta-Arrestins
  • Cyclic AMP