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G H Loew

Publications and source records attributed to G H Loew.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Molecular determinants of mu receptor recognition for the fentanyl class of compounds.

We report here a theoretical study of a series of fentanyl analogs with a wide range of affinities and selectivities at the mu receptor, designed to identify and characterize the molecular determinants of mu receptor recognition. In this work, a complete conformational search combining nested rotations and molecular dynamic simulations has been made, leading to identification of accessible conformers for all analogs and to the selection of a candidate bioactive form. In addition, electronic properties have been calculated and examined as possible modulators of recognition at the mu receptor. The results of these studies have led to a distinct pharmacophore for interaction at the mu receptor for this class of compounds, with the piperidine ring in a chair conformation and the N-phenethyl and 4-phenylpropanamide substituents both equatorial. Moreover, four key moieties necessary for optimum receptor recognition and a postulated role for each of them in this recognition have been identified. These are (i) a protonated amine nitrogen, assumed to be involved in an initial electrostatic interaction with a negatively charged site on the receptor; (ii) a polar function capable of hydrogen-bonding with an electrophilic site; (iii) an aromatic ring involved in lipophilic interaction with a similar moiety; and (iv) a second aromatic ring, most probably involved in electron transfer interaction with the receptor. These requirements, taken together, form the basis of our proposed mechanism for mu receptor recognition. Not only is the presence of these components required for recognition, but specific steric relationships between them have been determined, implying the appropriate arrangement for interaction with complementary receptor sites. These steric parameters are pseudobond angles and one torsion angle that determine the relative spatial arrangement of these four moieties. They are the angles theta 1 and theta 3, defining the relative position of the protonated nitrogen and the polar function with each of the two aromatic rings, and the torsion angle eta 1, defining the orientation of the lone pair(s) on the polar proton-accepting function with respect to the lone pair on the piperidine nitrogen. This postulated mechanism of recognition provides a conceptual framework to understand why some compounds do and some do not recognize the mu receptor.

Fentanyl↗
PubMed1991

A molecular model for an anionic opiate mu-receptor: affinity and activation of morphine conformers.

In this study, the minimal neglect of differential overlap, hydrogen bonding corrected (MNDO/H) method was used to construct an explicit three component mu-opioid receptor binding site composed of formate (Glu-, Asp-), H2O (Ser, Thr) and NH4+ (Lys+, Arg+) which has optimum interactions with the protonated amine and polar oxygen regions of morphine, respectively. These moieties are common to most classes of opioids and are thought to be involved in key interactions of the protonated form with the receptor leading to recognition and activation. Two predominant conformers of morphineH+, N-Me (equatorial) and N-Me (axial) were used as templates for construction of the binding site. In these studies, a plausible recognition mechanism involving electrostatic interaction between the protonated amine and an anionic receptor site, together with a proton-donating phenolic group and proton-accepting polar oxygens was characterized. The role of hydration of both the receptor site and morphine in determining affinity was also explicitly considered. The results strongly indicate that the high-affinity binding of morphineH+ to an 'anionic' receptor site is due mainly to a large entropy term resulting from expulsion of H2O from the receptor site upon introduction of morphine. A possible mechanism of receptor activation was also explored involving proton transfer from morphine to the receptor. Two results obtained support the plausibility of this mechanism: the barrier to proton transfer is reduced by receptor interaction with the polar oxygens and a conformational change occurs in the model receptor during this process.

Ammonia↗
PubMed1991

Development of a conformational search strategy for flexible ligands: a study of the potent mu-selective opioid analgesic fentanyl.

An extensive conformational search of the potent opioid analgesic, fentanyl, was performed using the semiempirical quantum mechanical method AM1 and the CHARMm potential energy function. A combination of two procedures was used to search the conformational space for fentanyl, which included nested dihedral scans, geometry optimization and molecular dynamics simulation at different temperatures. In addition, the effect of a continuum solvent environment was taken into account by use of appropriate values for the dielectric constant in the CHARMm computations. The results of the conformational search allowed the determination of the probable conformation of fentanyl in polar and nonpolar solvents and of three candidate conformers for its bioactive form.

Fentanyl↗
PubMed1991

Molecular models for recognition and activation at the benzodiazepine receptor: a review.

In this minireview an overview description of the different pharmacophores that have been proposed for the benzodiazepine receptor is presented. The methodology as well as the experimental information used in the development of each model will be described. Finally, the new experimental discoveries that are likely to affect the models presented are briefly indicated.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Theoretical study of the flexibility and solution conformation of the cyclic opioid peptides [D-Pen2,D-Pen5]enkephalin and [D-Pen2,L-Pen5]enkephalin.

An investigation of the conformational profiles of two cyclic delta-selective opioid peptides, [D-Pen2,D-Pen5]-enkephalin and [D-Pen2,L-Pen5]-enkephalin, has been made. The methods and procedures used are more extensive and systematic than those previously reported, involving a combination of nested grid rotations, cyclic ring-closing algorithms, molecular dynamic simulations at high and low temperature, and total geometry optimizations. The reexamination is a necessary first step in further characterization of the bioactive form of delta-selective peptides. This study also addresses the question of how rigid such cyclic analogs actually are. Finally, the effect of solvent environment on the low energy conformers obtained from the extensive search strategy has been determined. Simulation of the effect of water as a solvent by a continuum dielectric constant of 80 results in the breaking of internal hydrogen bonds and rearrangement of the rank order of energy of the conformers. The lowest energy solution conformation for [D-Pen2,D-Pen5]-enkephalin, obtained without utilizing any experimental data, is in excellent agreement with the geometric properties deduced from its solution NMR spectra.

Enkephalin, D-Penicillamine (2,5)-↗
PubMed1990

Selective effect on punished versus unpunished responding in a conflict test as the criterion for anxiogenic activity.

The punished drinking test has been used successfully for identifying and studying anxiolytic agents. By reducing the level of punishment (i.e., decreasing the intensity of shock), it has also been used as a method for measuring anxiogenic activity. Because anxiogenic behavior is a novel and important concept that is not yet fully established, we have reinvestigated the effects of two putative inverse benzodiazepine agonists and pentylenetetrazol in this conflict test. In a series of experiments, using both our version of the procedure and a replication of a previously published method, we were unable to demonstrate a selective reduction in punished responding over unpunished responding caused by CGS 8216 (3 to 40 mg/kg), FG 7142 (2 to 6 mg/kg), and pentylenetetrazol (10 to 20 mg/kg) as reported previously. A careful comparison of the details of our method and the published procedure failed to reveal the source of this discrepancy. If anxiogenic behavior is to be defined as a selective effect of a drug on punished response, the value of this test will depend on identification of its critical variables.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Effect of structural modifications in the C7-C11 region of the retinoid skeleton on biological activity in a series of aromatic retinoids.

A series of conformationally restricted analogues of (E)-4-[2-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-2-naphthalenyl)propenyl ] benzoic acid--(E)-4-[1-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-2-naphthalenyl)-2 - propenyl]benzoic acid, (E)-4-[3-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-2-naphthalenyl)-2-bu ten- 2-yl]benzoic acid, trans-4-[2-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-2-naphthalenyl) cyclopropyl]benzoic acid, 4-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-2-anthracenyl)benzoic acid, 6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-2-naphthalenyl)-2- naphthalenecarboxylic acid, 6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-3,5,5,8,8-pentamethyl-2-naphthalenyl)-2- naphthalenecarboxylic acid and 6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-2-naphthalenyl)-5-methyl-2- naphthalenecarboxylic acid--were synthesized and screened for retinoid biological activity. Comparison of the conformers of these analogues generated by molecular mechanics calculations with the biological activity profiles of these compounds indicates that geometric constraints required for high biological activity are imposed on the bridge joining the two aromatic ring systems by the retinoid receptor.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Molecular determinants of benzodiazepine receptor affinities and anticonvulsant activities.

In vivo convulsant activities profiles and receptor binding studies together with the techniques of theoretical chemistry were used to characterize 15 compounds, from five different chemical families, known to bind to the BDZ receptor. The experimental goals of this study were to determine the affinity of these analogs for this receptor, the effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid on the affinity, and, in a self-consistent manner, the nature of the activity, agonist (anticonvulsant), antagonist, or inverse agonist (proconvulsant, convulsant), elicited by binding to this receptor. To these ends, in vivo studies were made to determine the proconvulsant, convulsant, and anticonvulsant activities and antagonism to anticonvulsant activities of the 15 analogs. Their receptor affinities at 25 degrees were also determined by competitive inhibition of [3H] flunitrazepam and [3H]Ro 15-1788 in the absence and presence of gamma-aminobutyric acid. The goal of the theoretical studies was to identify and calculate molecular properties that modulate these affinities and types of activities and from them to develop a model of receptor recognition and activation that could consistently explain observed behavior and predict new results. Thus, molecular orbital calculations were carried out for all analogs, using semiempirical quantum mechanical methods. In addition to the optimization of structures, a number of electronic properties, such as polarizations, partition coefficients, and proton and electron affinities were computed and examined for their ability to modulate relative affinities and modes of activation of the receptor. From these studies, a model for receptor recognition involving two anchoring hydrogen bond-acceptor sites and for activation involving interaction of the most lipophilic aromatic region of each compound with the receptor was developed, which could systematically account for the three different types of behavior, agonist, antagonist, and inverse agonist, observed for these analogs. Electronic rather than structural properties were found to be the principal modulator of both recognition and activation. A possible mechanism of agonist activation of the receptor involving electron transfer to the agonist, as well as a possible induced conformational change in the receptor, is also suggested by these results. Finally, by complementarity, some steric and electronic characteristics of the receptor binding site could be deduced.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Theoretical study of the product specificity in the hydroxylation of camphor, norcamphor, 5,5-difluorocamphor, and pericyclocamphanone by cytochrome P-450cam.

The hydroxylations of d-camphor, norcamphor, pericyclocamphanone, and 5,5-difluorocamphor by cytochrome P-450cam have been examined using theoretical methods to identify and characterize properties which determine product specificity. Experimental results indicate that each molecule is hydroxylated with quite different regio-specificity when metabolized by P-450cam. This result is surprising in view of their overall structural similiarity. Herein we report the results of calculations on d-camphor and three of its analogues which suggest that all of these molecules should, when metabolized by P-450cam, form hydroxylation products and predict the product distribution for each. Our conclusions are based on two fundamental criteria which are consistent with a generally accepted radical mechanism in determining product specificity in these molecules: 1) relative heats of formation of the radicals formed by abstracting a hydrogen, and 2) orientation of the substrate molecule with respect to the putative active oxygen species bound to iron. Our results explain the experimental observations for camphor and 5,5-difluorocamphor but disagree with original published results for norcamphor and pericyclocamphanone. In light of our results, new experiments have been performed for norcamphor and the original data reexamined for pericyclocamphanone. Our predictions have recently been experimentally confirmed for norcamphor, and unpublished data (Dr. S. Sligar) suggest that the same is true for pericyclocamphanone.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1988

Theoretical investigation of the role of clay edges in prebiotic peptide bond formation. II. Structures and thermodynamics of the activated complex species.

Amino acid activation by anhydride formation in model tetrahedral silicate and aluminate sites in clays and neutral phosphates have been studied by semi-empirical molecular orbital calculations. The results have been compared to previous ab initio studies on the reactant species and were found to be in good agreement. The geometries of all species were totally optimized and heats of formation obtained. Relative heats of formation of the anhydrides indicate the extent of anhydride formation to be A1 greater than Si greater than P which is the same order as the stability of hydrolysis. The relative efficacy of the anhydrides in promoting peptide bond formation has been evaluated using both thermodynamic and chemical reactivity criteria. Heats of reaction for model reactions were calculated from calculated enthalpies of formation of the products and reactants. The electrophilicity of the carbonyl carbon and the nucleophilicity of the oxygen were specifically used as indicators of chemical reactivity towards dipeptide formation by the activated amino acids. Our results indicate that if the reaction mechanism is dominated by the nucleophilic character of the oxygen, tetrahedral A1 sites should be more active than Si, and if the electrophilic character dominates, the order would be reversed.

Aluminum Silicates↗
PubMed1988

Effects of addition of a 2-methyl group to ethyl nipecotates (beta-meperidines) on receptor affinities and opiate agonist/antagonist activities.

A series of 2-methyl-3-carbethoxy-3-(m-hydroxyphenyl)piperidine opiates (13a-d) with N-substituent variations have been synthesized, and their receptor affinities and in vivo agonist and antagonist activities and energy-conformational profiles have been determined. These are racemates of the alpha-epimer at the C-2 position, with a methyl group cis to the 3-phenyl group. One of the main goals of this study was to compare the conformational and pharmacological behavior of these 2-methyl "beta-meperidine" analogues to their 2-desmethyl racemic counterparts (14a-c) previously reported in the literature. The 2-desmethyl and 2-methyl analogues were found to have very similar phenyl equatorial conformers as their lowest energy forms with the addition of a 2-methyl group diminishing conformational flexibility. The presence of the 2-methyl group appears to diminish affinity at the mu-receptor and also to somewhat diminish already weak antinociceptic agonist activity. Given the similarity in lowest energy conformation, this reduction is most likely caused by the unfavorable interaction of the methyl group itself with a local mu-receptor binding site. Superposition of the phenol OH and protonated amine nitrogen NH of either 2-methyl enantiomer of 13a in its lowest energy conformer with the same OH and NH groups of metazocine, used as a high affinity rigid analogue, leads to reasonable overlap. However, the N-substituents and the piperidine and phenyl rings do not overlap in this proposed pharmacophore, perhaps accounting for the rather poor affinities found for these 3-phenylpiperidines and the lack of N-substituent modulation of affinity and efficacy as in fused ring opioids.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Structure-activity studies of morphine fragments. I. 4-alkyl-4-(m-hydroxy-phenyl)-piperidines.

The 4-(m-OH-phenyl)piperidines are a flexible fragment of the morphine/benzomorphan fused-ring opioids. Analogs in this family were synthesized with varying 4-alkyl substituents increasing in bulk from H through methyl, n-propyl, to t-butyl, each with the three N-substituents methyl, allyl, and phenethyl. These twelve compounds were evaluated for analgetic agonism in mice using two different models for antinociceptive activity, acetic acid writhing and tail-flick, the latter by both subcutaneous and intracerebroventricular routes of administration. Antagonism to morphine analgesia was also measured by the mouse tail-flick procedure. Binding affinities of these new analogs to different opioid receptor subtypes were determined. Energy conformational calculations on these compounds were also carried out using the empirical energy program called MOLMEC, in order to better understand how the 4-R substituents modulate receptor binding affinities and efficacies. The results obtained show that, in general, the compounds studied are mu-selective and vary in agonist potency from weak to morphine-like. Significant differences in rank order of analgetic potencies and their relationship to receptor affinities were obtained from the results of subcutaneous and intracerebroventricular administration. Results of energy-conformational calculations for twelve N-methyl compounds indicate that those with 4-alkyl substituents favor a common, non-morphine-like phenyl axial conformation. The 4-t-butyl compounds are, in fact, the first simple mono-alkyl-substituted 4-phenyl-piperidines predicted to definitely exist in a phenyl axial conformation, as confirmed by X-ray analysis. On the basis of this common phenyl axial conformation, the observed variation in mu receptor affinities and efficacies of the 4-methyl, 4-n-propyl, and 4-t-butyl compounds could be understood and the behavior of 4-ethyl and 4-isopropyl analogs predicted. Two equatorial conformers (rotamers) were found to be the preferred forms of the analogs with 4-R being H or an ester group, or with a 3-methyl group added trans (beta) to the 4-R group. Taking into account the rotational flexibility of these analogs, these two conformers could be used to understand differences in high and low efficacy compounds observed among analogs with preferred phenyl equatorial conformations. None of the analogs exhibit a fused-ring-like N-substituent modulation of efficacy. This result can, perhaps, be understood by their inability in any proposed conformer to totally mimic key receptor interactions of both the phenol-OH and N-substituent portions of the fused compounds.

Analgesics↗
PubMed1987

Novel mu-selective Met-enkephalinamide analogs with antagonist activity. Synthesis, receptor binding, analgesic properties and conformational studies.

Four novel mu-selective peptide antagonists have been synthesized and examined for receptor binding, analgesic agonist and antagonist activity and energy conformational properties. These peptides were designed by analogy to results of molecular modeling of 3-phenyl piperidines which led to incorporating four modified tyrosine residues, m-Tyr, beta-methyl-m-Tyr, N-phenethyl-m-Tyr and alpha, beta-dimethyl-m-Tyr into D-Ala2-Met5-enkephalinamide. Peptides were synthesized by stepwise solution synthesis using an active ester coupling procedure. Receptor binding assays were performed on rat brain homogenates and data were analyzed by a modified version of the program LIGAND. Analgesic agonist and antagonist activity was evaluated by the mouse tail-flick test. Energy-optimized conformations were obtained using a program called Molecule-AIMS. The results demonstrate that relative ratios of in vivo agonist and antagonist potencies in D-Ala2-Met5-enkephalinamides can be modulated by chemical modification of the tyrosine residue. A shift in the phenolic-OH position from para to meta significantly enhances relative antagonist versus agonist activity; addition of a beta-CH3 group to the m-Tyr enhances mu-selectivity and leads to nearly equal agonist/antagonist activity. Energy conformational studies indicate that all analogs with high mu-receptor affinity examined have a common energy accessible B'II 2-3 turn conformation similar to that previously identified for high mu-affinity binding in peptides, lending further support to this candidate conformer. This conformer also has tyrosine side-chain angles which allowed total overlap with the amine and phenolic groups of a known structure of 3-(m-OH phenyl)-piperidine. This structural similarity together with the observation of mixed agonist antagonist activity in both types of opioids confirms the rationale upon which design of these peptides was based.

Animals↗