Investigation on Quantitative Structure Activity Relationships and Pharmacophore Modeling of a Series of mGluR2 Antagonists

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Meng-Qi Zhang¹  Xiao-Le Zhang²  Yan Li¹  Wen-Jia Fan¹  Yong-Hua Wang³  Ming Hao¹  Shu-Wei Zhang¹ 

[1] Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, Liaoning 116024, China; E-Mails:;Department of Mathematical Sciences, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, Liaoning 116024, China; E-Mail:;Lab of Pharmaceutical Resource Discovery, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, Liaoning 116023, China; E-Mail:

关键词: 3D-QSAR;    mGluR2 antagonist;    CoMFA;    CoMSIA;    pharmacophore modeling;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms12095999

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

MGluR2 is G protein-coupled receptor that is targeted for diseases like anxiety, depression, Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia. Herein, we report the three-dimensional quantitative structure–activity relationship (3D-QSAR) studies of a series of 1,3-dihydrobenzo[ b][1,4]diazepin-2-one derivatives as mGluR2 antagonists. Two series of models using two different activities of the antagonists against rat mGluR2, which has been shown to be very similar to the human mGluR2, (activity I: inhibition of [³H]-LY354740; activity II: mGluR2 (1S,3R)-ACPD inhibition of forskolin stimulated cAMP.) were derived from datasets composed of 137 and 69 molecules respectively. For activity I study, the best predictive model obtained from CoMFA analysis yielded a Q² of 0.513, R² _ncv of 0.868, R² _pred = 0.876, while the CoMSIA model yielded a Q² of 0.450, R² _ncv = 0.899, R² _pred = 0.735. For activity II study, CoMFA model yielded statistics of Q² = 0.5, R² _ncv = 0.715, R² _pred = 0.723. These results prove the high predictability of the models. Furthermore, a combined analysis between the CoMFA, CoMSIA contour maps shows that: (1) Bulky substituents in R₇, R₃ and position A benefit activity I of the antagonists, but decrease it when projected in R₈ and position B; (2) Hydrophilic groups at position A and B increase both antagonistic activity I and II; (3) Electrostatic field plays an essential rule in the variance of activity II. In search for more potent mGluR2 antagonists, two pharmacophore models were developed separately for the two activities. The first model reveals six pharmacophoric features, namely an aromatic center, two hydrophobic centers, an H-donor atom, an H-acceptor atom and an H-donor site. The second model shares all features of the first one and has an additional acceptor site, a positive N and an aromatic center. These models can be used as guidance for the development of new mGluR2 antagonists of high activity and selectivity. This work is the first report on 3D-QSAR modeling of these mGluR2 antagonists. All the conclusions may lead to a better understanding of the mechanism of antagonism and be helpful in the design of new potent mGluR2 antagonists.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2011 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.