D2 Dopamine Receptor G Protein-Biased Partial Agonists Based on Cariprazine

J Med Chem. 2019 May 9;62(9):4755-4771. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b00508. Epub 2019 Apr 18.

Abstract

Functionally selective G protein-coupled receptor ligands are valuable tools for deciphering the roles of downstream signaling pathways that potentially contribute to therapeutic effects versus side effects. Recently, we discovered both Gi/o-biased and β-arrestin2-biased D2 receptor agonists based on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug aripiprazole. In this work, based on another FDA-approved drug, cariprazine, we conducted a structure-functional selectivity relationship study and discovered compound 38 (MS1768) as a potent partial agonist that selectively activates the Gi/o pathway over β-arrestin2. Unlike the dual D2R/D3R partial agonist cariprazine, compound 38 showed selective agonist activity for D2R over D3R. In fact, compound 38 exhibited potent antagonism of dopamine-stimulated β-arrestin2 recruitment. In our docking studies, compound 38 directly interacts with S1935.42 on TM5 but has no interactions with extracellular loop 2, which appears to be in contrast to the binding poses of D2R β-arrestin2-biased ligands. In in vivo studies, compound 38 showed high D2R receptor occupancy in mice and effectively inhibited phencyclidine-induced hyperlocomotion.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antipsychotic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antipsychotic Agents / metabolism
  • Antipsychotic Agents / pharmacology
  • Dopamine Agonists / chemical synthesis
  • Dopamine Agonists / metabolism
  • Dopamine Agonists / pharmacology*
  • Drug Design
  • Drug Partial Agonism
  • Female
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go / metabolism*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Isoquinolines / chemical synthesis
  • Isoquinolines / metabolism
  • Isoquinolines / pharmacology*
  • Locomotion / drug effects
  • Male
  • Methylurea Compounds / chemical synthesis
  • Methylurea Compounds / metabolism
  • Methylurea Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Molecular Structure
  • Piperazines / chemistry
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2 / agonists*
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2 / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • beta-Arrestin 2 / metabolism

Substances

  • Antipsychotic Agents
  • Dopamine Agonists
  • Isoquinolines
  • Methylurea Compounds
  • Piperazines
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2
  • beta-Arrestin 2
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go
  • cariprazine