Architecture of the molecules of life, a contribution of Louis Pasteur to molecular pharmacology; opportunities for adrenergic pharmacology developments
When Louis Pasteur observed para tartaric acid crystals under the microscope, he noted right- and left-handed tiny crystals, which when manually separated resulted in the same optical activity but of opposite sign. This seminal observation was correctly interpreted indicating that para tartaric acid...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Académie des sciences
2020-05-01
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| Series: | Comptes Rendus. Chimie |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://comptes-rendus.academie-sciences.fr/chimie/articles/10.5802/crchim.2/ |
| _version_ | 1797651408272490496 |
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| author | Bas, Morgane Hernández, Felipe Pablo Huidobro-Toro, J. |
| author_facet | Bas, Morgane Hernández, Felipe Pablo Huidobro-Toro, J. |
| author_sort | Bas, Morgane |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | When Louis Pasteur observed para tartaric acid crystals under the microscope, he noted right- and left-handed tiny crystals, which when manually separated resulted in the same optical activity but of opposite sign. This seminal observation was correctly interpreted indicating that para tartaric acid was the mixture of two different molecules: a finding that was later recognised as an essential code of molecular pharmacology based on the 3D spatial configuration of molecules. An immediate application of this concept refers to natural products such as morphine or ephedrine, both of which have the precise stereochemistry to fit and selectively activate the ${{\mu }}$-opiate receptor or ${\alpha }$-adrenoceptor mechanisms, respectively, and their associated intracellular signalling mechanisms. In this essay, we review the past, present and future of stereochemistry notions and its significance for adrenergic pharmacology, highlighting the relevance of optical isomers of sympathomimetics or ${\beta }$-adrenoceptor antagonists. The principle of optical activity revealed by Pasteur challenges the pharmaceutical industry to identify biologically active chemicals identifying the relevant stereochemical isomer responsible for drug efficacy and safety. It is no overstatement that pain is alleviated worldwide by a single stereochemical morphine isomer, that is synthesised by the poppy plant, which interacts stereospecifically with the relevant opioid receptor(s) highlighting Pasteur’s brilliant discovery to the principles of molecular pharmacology. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T16:15:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c74f6b9938904cabbe7f1b5fd7cac092 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1878-1543 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T16:15:32Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | Académie des sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Comptes Rendus. Chimie |
| spelling | doaj.art-c74f6b9938904cabbe7f1b5fd7cac0922023-10-24T14:22:36ZengAcadémie des sciencesComptes Rendus. Chimie1878-15432020-05-0123131610.5802/crchim.210.5802/crchim.2Architecture of the molecules of life, a contribution of Louis Pasteur to molecular pharmacology; opportunities for adrenergic pharmacology developmentsBas, Morgane0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8389-0149Hernández, Felipe1Pablo Huidobro-Toro, J.2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2217-5499Laboratorio de Farmacología de Nucleótidos, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, y Centro de Nanociencias y Nanotecnología, CEDENNA, Universidad de Santiago de Chile Santiago, Alameda 3363, Estación Central, Santiago, ChileLaboratorio de Farmacología de Nucleótidos, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, y Centro de Nanociencias y Nanotecnología, CEDENNA, Universidad de Santiago de Chile Santiago, Alameda 3363, Estación Central, Santiago, ChileLaboratorio de Farmacología, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Alameda 3363, Estación Central, Santiago, ChileWhen Louis Pasteur observed para tartaric acid crystals under the microscope, he noted right- and left-handed tiny crystals, which when manually separated resulted in the same optical activity but of opposite sign. This seminal observation was correctly interpreted indicating that para tartaric acid was the mixture of two different molecules: a finding that was later recognised as an essential code of molecular pharmacology based on the 3D spatial configuration of molecules. An immediate application of this concept refers to natural products such as morphine or ephedrine, both of which have the precise stereochemistry to fit and selectively activate the ${{\mu }}$-opiate receptor or ${\alpha }$-adrenoceptor mechanisms, respectively, and their associated intracellular signalling mechanisms. In this essay, we review the past, present and future of stereochemistry notions and its significance for adrenergic pharmacology, highlighting the relevance of optical isomers of sympathomimetics or ${\beta }$-adrenoceptor antagonists. The principle of optical activity revealed by Pasteur challenges the pharmaceutical industry to identify biologically active chemicals identifying the relevant stereochemical isomer responsible for drug efficacy and safety. It is no overstatement that pain is alleviated worldwide by a single stereochemical morphine isomer, that is synthesised by the poppy plant, which interacts stereospecifically with the relevant opioid receptor(s) highlighting Pasteur’s brilliant discovery to the principles of molecular pharmacology.https://comptes-rendus.academie-sciences.fr/chimie/articles/10.5802/crchim.2/Optical activityPasteurOptical asymmetryStereochemistryAdrenergic drug enantiomersRacemic drugsMolecular pharmacology stereoisomers |
| spellingShingle | Bas, Morgane Hernández, Felipe Pablo Huidobro-Toro, J. Architecture of the molecules of life, a contribution of Louis Pasteur to molecular pharmacology; opportunities for adrenergic pharmacology developments Comptes Rendus. Chimie Optical activity Pasteur Optical asymmetry Stereochemistry Adrenergic drug enantiomers Racemic drugs Molecular pharmacology stereoisomers |
| title | Architecture of the molecules of life, a contribution of Louis Pasteur to molecular pharmacology; opportunities for adrenergic pharmacology developments |
| title_full | Architecture of the molecules of life, a contribution of Louis Pasteur to molecular pharmacology; opportunities for adrenergic pharmacology developments |
| title_fullStr | Architecture of the molecules of life, a contribution of Louis Pasteur to molecular pharmacology; opportunities for adrenergic pharmacology developments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Architecture of the molecules of life, a contribution of Louis Pasteur to molecular pharmacology; opportunities for adrenergic pharmacology developments |
| title_short | Architecture of the molecules of life, a contribution of Louis Pasteur to molecular pharmacology; opportunities for adrenergic pharmacology developments |
| title_sort | architecture of the molecules of life a contribution of louis pasteur to molecular pharmacology opportunities for adrenergic pharmacology developments |
| topic | Optical activity Pasteur Optical asymmetry Stereochemistry Adrenergic drug enantiomers Racemic drugs Molecular pharmacology stereoisomers |
| url | https://comptes-rendus.academie-sciences.fr/chimie/articles/10.5802/crchim.2/ |
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