Selective α<inf>3</inf>β<inf>4</inf> Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Ligand as a Potential Tracer for Drug Addiction
Issued Date
2023-02-01
Resource Type
ISSN
16616596
eISSN
14220067
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85149053514
Pubmed ID
36835028
Journal Title
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Volume
24
Issue
4
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
International Journal of Molecular Sciences Vol.24 No.4 (2023)
Suggested Citation
Kanasuwan A., Deuther-Conrad W., Chongruchiroj S., Sarasamkan J., Chotipanich C., Vajragupta O., Arunrungvichian K. Selective α<inf>3</inf>β<inf>4</inf> Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Ligand as a Potential Tracer for Drug Addiction. International Journal of Molecular Sciences Vol.24 No.4 (2023). doi:10.3390/ijms24043614 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/81656
Title
Selective α<inf>3</inf>β<inf>4</inf> Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Ligand as a Potential Tracer for Drug Addiction
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
α3β4 Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) has been recognized as an emerging biomarker for the early detection of drug addiction. Herein, α3β4 nAChR ligands were designed and synthesized to improve the binding affinity and selectivity of two lead compounds, (S)-QND8 and (S)-T2, for the development of an α3β4 nAChR tracer. The structural modification was achieved by retaining the key features and expanding the molecular structure with a benzyloxy group to increase the lipophilicity for blood-brain barrier penetration and to extend the ligand-receptor interaction. The preserved key features are a fluorine atom for radiotracer development and a p-hydroxyl motif for ligand-receptor binding affinity. Four (R)- and (S)-quinuclidine-triazole (AK1-AK4) were synthesized and the binding affinity, together with selectivity to α3β4 nAChR subtype, were determined by competitive radioligand binding assay using [3H]epibatidine as a radioligand. Among all modified compounds, AK3 showed the highest binding affinity and selectivity to α3β4 nAChR with a Ki value of 3.18 nM, comparable to (S)-QND8 and (S)-T2 and 3069-fold higher affinity to α3β4 nAChR in comparison to α7 nAChR. The α3β4 nAChR selectivity of AK3 was considerably higher than those of (S)-QND8 (11.8-fold) and (S)-T2 (294-fold). AK3 was shown to be a promising α3β4 nAChR tracer for further development as a radiotracer for drug addiction.