Discovery of Small Molecule Kappa Opioid Receptor Agonist and Antagonist Chemotypes through a HTS and Hit Refinement Strategy

  • ACS Chem Neurosci. 2012 Mar 21;3(3):221-236. doi: 10.1021/cn200128x.
Kevin J Frankowski  1 ,  Michael P Hedrick ,  Palak Gosalia ,  Kelin Li ,  Shenghua Shi ,  David Whipple ,  Partha Ghosh ,  Thomas E Prisinzano ,  Frank J Schoenen ,  Ying Su ,  S Vasile ,  Eduard Sergienko ,  Wilson Gray ,  Santosh Hariharan ,  Loribelle Milan ,  Susanne Heynen-Genel ,  Arianna Mangravita-Novo ,  Michael Vicchiarelli ,  Layton H Smith ,  John M Streicher ,  Marc G Caron ,  Lawrence S Barak ,  Laura M Bohn ,  Thomas D Y Chung ,  Jeffrey Aubé
Affiliations
  • 1. University of Kansas Specialized Chemistry Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047.
PMID: 22737280 DOI: 10.1021/cn200128x
Abstract

Herein we present the outcome of a high throughput screening (HTS) campaign-based strategy for the rapid identification and optimization of selective and general chemotypes for both kappa (κ) Opioid Receptor (KOR) activation and inhibition. In this program, we have developed potent antagonists (IC(50) < 120 nM) or agonists of high binding affinity (K(i) < 3 nM). In contrast to many important KOR ligands, the compounds presented here are highly modular, readily synthesized and, in most cases, achiral. The four new chemotypes hold promise for further development into chemical tools for studying the KOR or as potential therapeutic lead candidates.

Products