Development of Ligands for the Super Conserved Orphan G Protein-Coupled Receptor GPR27 with Improved Efficacy and Potency

J Med Chem. 2023 Dec 28;66(24):17118-17137. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c02030. Epub 2023 Dec 7.

Abstract

The orphan G protein-coupled receptor GPR27 appears to play a role in insulin production, secretion, lipid metabolism, neuronal plasticity, and l-lactate homeostasis. However, investigations on the function of GPR27 are impaired by the lack of potent and efficacious agonists. We describe herein the development of di- and trisubstituted benzamide derivatives 4a-e, 7a-z, and 7aa-ai, which display GPR27-specific activity in a β-arrestin 2 recruitment-based assay. Highlighted compounds are PT-91 (7p: pEC50 6.15; Emax 100%) and 7ab (pEC50 6.56; Emax 99%). A putative binding mode was revealed by the docking studies of 7p and 7ab with a GPR27 homology model. The novel active compounds exhibited no GPR27-mediated activation of G proteins, indicating that the receptor may possess an atypical profile. Compound 7p displays high metabolic stability and brain exposure in mice. Thus, 7p represents a novel tool to investigate the elusive pharmacology of GPR27 and assess its potential as a drug target.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / metabolism
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Insulin* / metabolism
  • Ligands
  • Mice
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled* / metabolism
  • beta-Arrestin 2 / metabolism

Substances

  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • Insulin
  • GTP-Binding Proteins
  • beta-Arrestin 2
  • Ligands