title: Synthesis, pharmacological characterization and QSAR studies on 2-substituted indole melatonin receptor ligands.
abstract: A number of 6-methoxy-1-(2-propionylaminoethyl)indoles, carrying properly selected substituents at the C-2 indole position, were prepared and tested as melatonin receptor ligands. Affinities and intrinsic activities for the human cloned mt1 and MT2 receptors were examined and compared with those of some 2-substituted melatonin derivatives recently described by us. A quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) study of the sixteen 2-substituted indole compounds, 5a-k, 1, 8-11, using partial least squares (PLS) and multiple regression analysis (MRA) revealed the existence of an optimal range of lipophilicity for the C2 indole substituent. There are also indications that planar, electron-withdrawing substituents contribute to the affinity by establishing additional interactions with the binding pocket. No mt1/MT2 subtype selectivity was observed, with the relevant exception of the 2-phenethyl derivative 5e, which exhibited the highest selectivity for the h-MT2 receptor among all the compounds tested (MT2/mt1 ratio of ca. 50). Conformational analysis and superposition of 5e to other reported selective MT2 ligands revealed structural and conformational similarities that might account for the MT2/mt1 selectivity of 5e.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento Farmaceutico, Università degli Studi di Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mor
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spadoni
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Di Giacomo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Diamantini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bedini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tarzia
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Plazzi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rivara
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nonno
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lucini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pannacci
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fraschini
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Stankov
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate) / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D008024:Ligands; D008550:Melatonin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011487:Protein Conformation; D021281:Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000187:drug effects*; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000187:drug effects*; D044094:Receptors, Melatonin; D012044:Regression Analysis
chemical_list: D007211:Indoles; D008024:Ligands; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D044094:Receptors, Melatonin; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate); C044556:2-iodomelatonin; D008550:Melatonin