Location of the hydrophobic pocket in the binding site of fentanyl analogs in the µ-opioid receptor

Fentanyl is a highly potent and clinically widely used narcotic analgesic. The synthesis of its analogs remains a challenge in an attempt to develop highly selective µ-opioid receptor agonists with specific pharmacological properties. In this paper, the use of flexible molecular docking of several s...

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Main Authors: Došen-Mićović Ljiljana, Ivanović Milovan, Mićović Vuk
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Serbian Chemical Society 2007-01-01
Series:Journal of the Serbian Chemical Society
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0352-5139/2007/0352-51390707643D.pdf
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author Došen-Mićović Ljiljana
Ivanović Milovan
Mićović Vuk
author_facet Došen-Mićović Ljiljana
Ivanović Milovan
Mićović Vuk
author_sort Došen-Mićović Ljiljana
collection DOAJ
description Fentanyl is a highly potent and clinically widely used narcotic analgesic. The synthesis of its analogs remains a challenge in an attempt to develop highly selective µ-opioid receptor agonists with specific pharmacological properties. In this paper, the use of flexible molecular docking of several specific fentanyl analogs to the µ-opioid receptor model, in order to test the hypothesis that the hydrophobic pocket accommodates alkyl groups at position 3 of the fentanyl skeleton, is described. The stereoisomers of the following compounds were studied: cis- and trans-3-methylfentanyl, 3,3-dimethylfentanyl, cis- and trans-3-ethylfentanyl, cis- and trans-3-propylfentanyl, cis-3-isopropylfentanyl and cis-3-benzylfentanyl. The optimal position and orientation of these fentanyl analogs in the binding pocket of the µ-receptor, explaining their enantiospecific potency, were determined. It was found that the 3-alkyl group of cis-3R,4S and trans-3S,4S stereoisomers of all the active compounds occupies the hydrophobic pocket between TM5, TM6 and TM7, made up of the amino acids Trp318 (TM7), Ile322 (TM7), Ile301 (TM6) and Phe237 (TM5). However, the fact that this hydrophobic pocket can also accommodate the bulky 3-alkyl substituents of the two inactive compounds: cis-3-isopropylfentanyl, and cis-3-benzylfentanyl, indicates that this hydrophobic pocket in the employed receptor model is probably too large. .
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spelling doaj.art-d3bd83da30b544feac0496cd98bcd2402022-12-22T00:00:51ZengSerbian Chemical SocietyJournal of the Serbian Chemical Society0352-51391820-74212007-01-0172764365410.2298/JSC0707643D0352-51390707643DLocation of the hydrophobic pocket in the binding site of fentanyl analogs in the µ-opioid receptorDošen-Mićović Ljiljana0Ivanović Milovan1Mićović Vuk2Hemijski fakultet, Beograd + Centar za hemiju, IHTM, BeogradHemijski fakultet, Beograd + Centar za hemiju, IHTM, BeogradHemijski fakultet, Beograd + Centar za hemiju, IHTM, BeogradFentanyl is a highly potent and clinically widely used narcotic analgesic. The synthesis of its analogs remains a challenge in an attempt to develop highly selective µ-opioid receptor agonists with specific pharmacological properties. In this paper, the use of flexible molecular docking of several specific fentanyl analogs to the µ-opioid receptor model, in order to test the hypothesis that the hydrophobic pocket accommodates alkyl groups at position 3 of the fentanyl skeleton, is described. The stereoisomers of the following compounds were studied: cis- and trans-3-methylfentanyl, 3,3-dimethylfentanyl, cis- and trans-3-ethylfentanyl, cis- and trans-3-propylfentanyl, cis-3-isopropylfentanyl and cis-3-benzylfentanyl. The optimal position and orientation of these fentanyl analogs in the binding pocket of the µ-receptor, explaining their enantiospecific potency, were determined. It was found that the 3-alkyl group of cis-3R,4S and trans-3S,4S stereoisomers of all the active compounds occupies the hydrophobic pocket between TM5, TM6 and TM7, made up of the amino acids Trp318 (TM7), Ile322 (TM7), Ile301 (TM6) and Phe237 (TM5). However, the fact that this hydrophobic pocket can also accommodate the bulky 3-alkyl substituents of the two inactive compounds: cis-3-isopropylfentanyl, and cis-3-benzylfentanyl, indicates that this hydrophobic pocket in the employed receptor model is probably too large. .http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0352-5139/2007/0352-51390707643D.pdfmolecular modelingfentanyl analogsligand-receptor interactionsdocking simulation
spellingShingle Došen-Mićović Ljiljana
Ivanović Milovan
Mićović Vuk
Location of the hydrophobic pocket in the binding site of fentanyl analogs in the µ-opioid receptor
Journal of the Serbian Chemical Society
molecular modeling
fentanyl analogs
ligand-receptor interactions
docking simulation
title Location of the hydrophobic pocket in the binding site of fentanyl analogs in the µ-opioid receptor
title_full Location of the hydrophobic pocket in the binding site of fentanyl analogs in the µ-opioid receptor
title_fullStr Location of the hydrophobic pocket in the binding site of fentanyl analogs in the µ-opioid receptor
title_full_unstemmed Location of the hydrophobic pocket in the binding site of fentanyl analogs in the µ-opioid receptor
title_short Location of the hydrophobic pocket in the binding site of fentanyl analogs in the µ-opioid receptor
title_sort location of the hydrophobic pocket in the binding site of fentanyl analogs in the µ opioid receptor
topic molecular modeling
fentanyl analogs
ligand-receptor interactions
docking simulation
url http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0352-5139/2007/0352-51390707643D.pdf
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AT ivanovicmilovan locationofthehydrophobicpocketinthebindingsiteoffentanylanalogsintheμopioidreceptor
AT micovicvuk locationofthehydrophobicpocketinthebindingsiteoffentanylanalogsintheμopioidreceptor