The application of 3D-QSAR studies for novel cannabinoid ligands substituted at the C1' position of the alkyl side chain on the structural requirements for binding to cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2

J Med Chem. 2007 Jun 14;50(12):2875-85. doi: 10.1021/jm0610705. Epub 2007 May 24.

Abstract

A set of 30 novel Delta8-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol analogues were subjected to three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship studies using the comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA) approaches. Using a combination of molecular modeling techniques and NMR spectroscopy, the putative bioactive conformation of the most potent cannabinoid (CB) ligand in the training set was determined. This conformer was used as the template and CB1 and CB2 pharmacophore models were developed. These models were fitted with experimental binding data and gave high correlation coefficients. Contour maps of the CB1 and CB2 models of CoMFA and CoMSIA approaches show that steric effects dominantly determine the binding affinities. The CoMFA and CoMSIA analyses based on the binding affinity data of CB ligands at the CB1 and CB2 receptors allowed us to deduce the possible optimal binding positions. This information can be used for the design of new CB analogues with enhanced activity and other tailored properties.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Disulfides / chemistry
  • Dronabinol / analogs & derivatives*
  • Dronabinol / chemistry*
  • Least-Squares Analysis
  • Ligands
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Models, Molecular*
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Molecular Structure
  • Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship*
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / chemistry*
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 / chemistry*

Substances

  • Disulfides
  • Ligands
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2
  • Dronabinol