Azetidinic amino acids: stereocontrolled synthesis and pharmacological characterization as ligands for glutamate receptors and transporters

Hans Bräuner-Osborne, Lennart Bunch, Nathalie Chopin, François Couty, Gwilherm Evano, Anders A. Jensen, Mie Lindskov Kusk, Birgitte Nielsen, Nicolas Rabasso

    49 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    A set of ten azetidinic amino acids, that can be envisioned as C-4 alkyl substituted analogues of trans-2-carboxyazetidine-3-acetic acid (t-CAA) and/or conformationally constrained analogues of (R)- or (S)-glutamic acid (Glu) have been synthesized in a diastereo- and enantiomerically pure form from beta-amino alcohols through a straightforward five step sequence. The key step of this synthesis is an original anionic 4-exo-tet ring closure that forms the azetidine ring upon an intramolecular Michael addition. This reaction was proven to be reversible and to lead to a thermodynamic distribution of two diastereoisomers that were easily separated and converted in two steps into azetidinic amino acids. Azetidines 35-44 were characterized in binding studies on native ionotropic Glu receptors and in functional assays at cloned metabotropic receptors mGluR1, 2 and 4, representing group I, II and III mGlu receptors, respectively. Furthermore, azetidine analogues 35, 36, and 40 were also characterized as potential ligands at the glutamate transporter subtypes EAAT1-3 in the FLIPR Membrane Potential (FMP) assay. The (2R)-azetidines 35, 37, 39, 41 and 43 were inactive in iGlu, mGlu and EAAT assays, whereas a marked change in the pharmacological profile at the iGlu receptors was observed when a methyl group was introduced in the C-4 position, compound 36 versus t-CAA. At EAAT1-3, compound 35 was inactive, whereas azetidines 36 and 40 were both identified as inhibitors and showed selectivity for the EAAT2 subtype.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalOrganic & Biomolecular Chemistry
    Volume3
    Issue number21
    Pages (from-to)3926-36
    Number of pages11
    ISSN1477-0520
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2005

    Keywords

    • Amino Acid Transport System X-AG
    • Amino Acids
    • Animals
    • Azetidines
    • Cyclization
    • Humans
    • Ligands
    • Protein Binding
    • Receptors, Glutamate
    • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate
    • Stereoisomerism
    • Structure-Activity Relationship

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Azetidinic amino acids: stereocontrolled synthesis and pharmacological characterization as ligands for glutamate receptors and transporters'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this