Identification by virtual screening and functional characterisation of novel positive and negative allosteric modulators of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. (1st September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Smelt, Charles L.C.; Sanders, Victoria R.; Newcombe, Joseph; Burt, Richard P.; Sheppard, Tom D.; Topf, Maya; Millar, Neil S.
• Is Part Of: Neuropharmacology. Volume 139(2018)
• Page Start: 194
• Page End: 204
• Publication Date: 2018-09-01
• Subjects: Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor -- Ion channel -- Allosteric modulation -- Virtual screening; 5-HT 5-hydroxytryptamine -- DB04763 1-N-(4-sulfamoylphenethyl)-2, 4, 6-trimethylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate -- AUC area under the curve -- CAII carbonic anhydrase II -- CDK2 cyclin-dependent kinase 2 -- DB08122 N-methyl-4-{[(2-oxo-1, 2-dihydro-3h-indol-3-ylidene)methyl]amino}benzenesulfonamide -- GABA γ-aminobutyric acid -- NAM negative allosteric modulator -- nAChR nicotinic acetylcholine receptor -- NKCC Na+-K+-Cl- cotransporter -- PAM positive allosteric modulator -- ROC receiver operator characteristic; Neuropsychopharmacology -- Periodicals; Autonomic Agents -- Periodicals; Neuropsychopharmacologie -- Périodiques; Neuropsychopharmacology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 615.78
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.07.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0028-3908

Abstract

Abstract: Several previous studies have demonstrated that the activity of neurotransmitters acting on ligand-gated ion channels such as the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) can be altered by compounds binding to allosteric modulatory sites. In the case of α7 nAChRs, both positive and negative allosteric modulators (PAMs and NAMs) have been identified and have attracted considerable interest. A recent study, employing revised structural models of the transmembrane domain of the α7 nAChR in closed and open conformations, has provided support for an inter-subunit transmembrane allosteric binding site (Newcombe et al 2017). In the present study, we have performed virtual screening of the DrugBank database using pharmacophore queries that were based on the predicted binding mode of PAMs to α7 nAChR structural models. A total of 81 compounds were identified in the DrugBank database, of which the 25 highest-ranked hits corresponded to one of four previously-identified therapeutic compound groups (carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, diuretics targeting the Na + -K + -Cl - cotransporter, and fluoroquinolone antibiotics targeting DNA gyrase). The top-ranked compound from each of these four groups (DB04763, DB08122, furosemide and pefloxacin, respectively) was tested for its effects on human α7 nAChR expressed in Xenopus oocytes using two-electrode voltage-clamp electrophysiology. These studies, conducted with wild-type, mutant and chimeric receptors, resulted in all four compounds exerting allosteric modulatory effects. While DB04763, DB08122 and pefloxacin were antagonists, furosemide potentiated ACh responses. Our findings, supported by docking studies, are consistent with these compounds acting as PAMs and NAMs of the α7 nAChR via interaction with a transmembrane site. Highlights: Identification of α7 nAChR positive and negative allosteric modulators. Furosemide is a positive allosteric modulator of α7 nAChRs. DB04763, DB08122 and pefloxacin are negative allosteric modulators of α7 nAChRs. Modulation of α7 nAChRs by an allosteric transmembrane site.