Here we present the synthesis, pharmacological activity, and molecular docking of novel non-competitive antagonists of GluK2 receptor. The compounds concerned are derivatives of indole and carbazole and are the second reported series of non-competitive antagonists of the GluK2 receptor (the first one was also published by our group). The activity of the indole derivatives is in the micromolar range, as in the case of the first series of non-competitive GluK2 receptor antagonists. We have found that designed carbazole derivatives are devoid of activity. Active indole derivatives interact with the transduction domain of the GluK2 receptor, i.e., the domain which links the transmembrane region of the receptor with the agonist-binding domain. The binding pocket is situated within one receptor subunit.
Keywords: Carbazole derivatives; Indole derivatives; Kainate receptors; Non-competitive GluK2 receptor antagonists.