title: Combining galantamine and memantine in multitargeted, new chemical entities potentially useful in Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: Herein we report on a novel series of multitargeted compounds obtained by linking together galantamine and memantine. The compounds were designed by taking advantage of the crystal structures of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in complex with galantamine derivatives. Sixteen novel derivatives were synthesized, using spacers of different lengths and chemical composition. The molecules were then tested as inhibitors of AChE and as binders of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor (NMDAR). Some of the new compounds were nanomolar inhibitors of AChE and showed micromolar affinities for NMDAR. All compounds were also tested for selectivity toward NMDAR containing the 2B subunit (NR2B). Some of the new derivatives showed a micromolar affinity for NR2B. Finally, selected compounds were tested using a cell-based assay to measure their neuroprotective activity. Three of them showed a remarkable neuroprotective profile, inhibiting the NMDA-induced neurotoxicity at subnanomolar concentrations (e.g., 5, named memagal, IC(50) = 0.28 nM).
authors.affiliation: Drug Discovery and Development, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Simoni
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daniele
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bottegoni
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pizzirani
authors.forename: Maria L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Trincavelli
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Goldoni
authors.forename: Glauco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tarozzo
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reggiani
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martini
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Piomelli
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Melchiorre
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosini
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cavalli
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000737:chemistry; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004338:Drug Combinations; D015195:Drug Design; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005702:Galantamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008559:Memantine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D004338:Drug Combinations; C121001:NR2B NMDA receptor; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D005702:Galantamine; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D008559:Memantine