Synthetic Studies of Neoclerodane Diterpenes from Salvia divinorum: Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of Analogues with Improved Potency and G-protein Activation Bias at the μ-Opioid Receptor.
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ABSTRACT: Previous structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies identified the first centrally acting, non-nitrogenous μ-opioid receptor (MOR) agonist, kurkinorin (1), derived from salvinorin A. In an effort to further probe the physiological effects induced upon activation of MORs with this nonmorphine scaffold, a variety of analogues were synthesized and evaluated in vitro for their ability to activate G-proteins and recruit β-arrestin-2 upon MOR activation. Through these studies, compounds that are potent agonists at MORs and either biased toward β-arrestin-2 recruitment or biased toward G-protein activation have been identified. One such compound, 25, has potent activity and selectivity at the MOR over KOR with bias for G-protein activation. Impressively, 25 is over 100× more potent than morphine and over 5× more potent than fentanyl in vitro and elicits antinociception with limited tolerance development in vivo. This is especially significant given that 25 lacks a basic nitrogen and other ionizable groups present in other opioid ligand classes.
SUBMITTER: Crowley RS
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7359744 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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