Ketamine Metabolites Enantioselectively Decrease Intracellular D-Serine Concentrations in PC-12 Cells

PLoS One. 2016 Apr 20;11(4):e0149499. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0149499. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

D-Serine is an endogenous NMDA receptor co-agonist that activates synaptic NMDA receptors modulating neuronal networks in the cerebral cortex and plays a key role in long-term potentiation of synaptic transmission. D-serine is associated with NMDA receptor neurotoxicity and neurodegeneration and elevated D-serine concentrations have been associated with Alzheimer's and Parkinsons' diseases and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Previous studies have demonstrated that the ketamine metabolites (rac)-dehydronorketamine and (2S,6S)-hydroxynorketamine decrease intracellular D-serine concentrations in a concentration dependent manner in PC-12 cells. In the current study, PC-12 cells were incubated with a series of ketamine metabolites and the IC50 values associated with attenuated intracellular D-serine concentrations were determined. The results demonstrate that structural and stereochemical features of the studied compounds contribute to the magnitude of the inhibitory effect with (2S,6S)-hydroxynorketamine and (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine displaying the most potent inhibition with IC50 values of 0.18 ± 0.04 nM and 0.68 ± 0.09 nM. The data was utilized to construct a preliminary 3D-QSAR/pharmacophore model for use in the design of new and more efficient modulators of D-serine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Transport System ASC / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Ketamine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Ketamine / pharmacology*
  • Minor Histocompatibility Antigens
  • Models, Molecular
  • PC12 Cells
  • Protein Transport
  • Rats
  • Serine / metabolism*
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Amino Acid Transport System ASC
  • Minor Histocompatibility Antigens
  • Slc1a5 protein, rat
  • Serine
  • Ketamine