3D-QSAR studies of arylpyrazole antagonists of cannabinoid receptor subtypes CB1 and CB2. A combined NMR and CoMFA approach

J Med Chem. 2006 Jan 26;49(2):625-36. doi: 10.1021/jm050655g.

Abstract

The present work focuses on the study of the three-dimensional (3D) structural requirements for selective antagonist activity of arylpyrazole compounds at the cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors. Initially, a combined high-resolution two-dimensional (2D) NMR and computer modeling approach was carried out to study the solution structure of the key pyrazole derivative N-(piperidin-1-yl)-5-phenyl-1-(n-pentyl)-4-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide (AM263). By using the NMR-determined molecular conformers as templates, the 3D quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) studies were performed with the comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) approach on a set of arylpyrazole cannabinoid receptor antagonists. Molecular alignments suitable for deriving valuable pharmacophoric features for this series of compounds were determined. Such systematic 3D-QSAR/CoMFA analyses of 29 molecules and their receptor affinities gave guidance for understanding the binding affinities of arylpyrazoles at the CB1 and CB2 binding sites, respectively. Comparison of CoMFA steric and potential contour maps for affinity at the two cannabinoid receptor subtypes helps to differentiate structural requirements for each subtype and serves as a basis for the design of later-generation analogues.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Binding Sites
  • Computer Simulation
  • Ligands
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Models, Molecular*
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Pyrazoles / chemistry*
  • Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship*
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / chemistry
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 / chemistry
  • Solutions

Substances

  • Ligands
  • Pyrazoles
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2
  • Solutions