Matthew P Epplin, Ayush Mohan, Lynnea D Harris, Zongjian Zhu, Katie L Strong, John Bacsa, Phuong Le, David S Menaldino, Stephen F Traynelis, Dennis C Liotta
Journal of medicinal chemistry 2020 Jul 23The N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) is an ion channel that mediates the slow, Ca2+-permeable component of glutamatergic synaptic transmission in the central nervous system (CNS). NMDARs are known to play a significant role in basic neurological functions, and their dysfunction has been implicated in several CNS disorders. Herein, we report the discovery of second-generation GluN2C/D-selective NMDAR-positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) with a dihydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazin-3(4H)-one core. The prototype, R-(+)-EU-1180-453, exhibits log unit improvements in the concentration needed to double receptor response, lipophilic efficiency, and aqueous solubility, and lowers cLogP by one log unit compared to the first-generation prototype CIQ. Additionally, R-(+)-EU-1180-453 was found to increase glutamate potency 2-fold, increase the response to maximally effective concentration of agonist 4-fold, and the racemate is brain-penetrant. These compounds are useful second-generation in vitro tools and a promising step toward in vivo tools for the study of positive modulation of GluN2C- and GluN2D-containing NMDA receptors.
Matthew P Epplin, Ayush Mohan, Lynnea D Harris, Zongjian Zhu, Katie L Strong, John Bacsa, Phuong Le, David S Menaldino, Stephen F Traynelis, Dennis C Liotta. Discovery of Dihydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazin-3(4H)-one-Based Second-Generation GluN2C- and GluN2D-Selective Positive Allosteric Modulators (PAMs) of the N-Methyl-d-Aspartate (NMDA) Receptor. Journal of medicinal chemistry. 2020 Jul 23;63(14):7569-7600
PMID: 32538088
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