TY  - INPR
N1  - This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions.
Y1  - 2025/01/14/
AV  - restricted
TI  - Design, Synthesis, and Pharmacological Evaluation of Nonsteroidal Tricyclic Ligands as Modulators of GABAA Receptors
A1  - Xu, Yue
A1  - Mortensen, Martin
A1  - Liebowitz, Seth
A1  - Jensen, Nicoline N
A1  - Tian, Yongsong
A1  - Bavo, Francesco
A1  - Seidel, Thomas
A1  - Smart, Trevor G
A1  - Frølund, Bente
JF  - Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
PB  - American Chemical Society (ACS)
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c02881
N2  - GABAA receptors (GABAARs) are the major elements of inhibitory neurotransmission in the central nervous system (CNS). They are established targets for regulation by endogenous brain neuroactive steroids (NASs) such as pregnanolone. However, the complexity of de novo synthesis of NAS derivatives has hindered attempts to circumvent the principal limitations of using endogenous NASs, including selectivity and limited oral bioavailability. In this study, we designed a series of tricyclic compounds, inspired by the structures of pregnanolone and pregnenolone sulfate, to explore novel nonsteroidal alternatives. Using patch clamp electrophysiology, we demonstrate that these compounds exhibit either positive or negative allosteric modulation of GABAARs. Specifically, we discover a positive allosteric modulator (PAM) and a series of tricyclic sulfate-based negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) all active at the micromolar level. This research has significantly broadened the chemical diversity of ligands targeting GABAARs offering potential for efficacious allosteric modulators while avoiding the complexity of NAS synthesis.
ID  - discovery10203788
ER  -