Design, Synthesis, and Biological Assessment of Biased Allosteric Modulation of the Urotensin II Receptor Using Achiral 1,3,4-Benzotriazepin-2-one Turn Mimics

J Med Chem. 2017 Dec 14;60(23):9838-9859. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b01525. Epub 2017 Dec 5.

Abstract

Benzotriazepin-2-ones were designed to mimic the suggested bioactive γ-turn conformation of the Bip-Lys-Tyr tripeptide in Urocontrin ([Bip4]URP), which modulates the urotensin II receptor (UT) and differentiates the effects of the endogenous ligands urotensin II (UII) and urotensin II-related peptide (URP). Twenty-six benzotriazepin-2-ones were synthesized by acylation of anthranilate-derived amino ketones with an aza-glycine equivalent, chemoselective nitrogen functionalization, and ring closure. Several mimics exhibited selective modulatory effects on hUII- and URP-associated vasoconstriction in an ex vivo rat aortic ring bioassay. The C5 p-hydroxyphenethenyl benzotriazepin-2-one 20g decreased hUII potency and efficacy without changing URP induced vasoconstriction. Its saturated phenethyl counterpart 23g decreased URP potency without influencing hUII-mediated contraction. To our knowledge, 20g and 23g represent the first achiral molecules that modulate selectively hUII and URP biological activities. Effectively synthesized, benzotriaepin-2-one turn mimics offer the potential to differentiate the respective roles, signaling pathways, and phenotypic outcomes of hUII and URP in the UT system.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aorta / drug effects
  • Aorta / physiology
  • Benzazepines / chemical synthesis
  • Benzazepines / chemistry*
  • Benzazepines / pharmacology*
  • Drug Design*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Male
  • Peptide Hormones / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Peptide Hormones / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism*
  • Vasoconstriction / drug effects*

Substances

  • Benzazepines
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Peptide Hormones
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • UTS2B protein, human
  • UTS2R protein, human

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