NIH3T3 cells stably expressing the rat 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A (5-HT 2A ) receptor (5500 fmol/mg) were used to explore further the capacity of structurally distinct ligands to elicit differential signaling through the phospholipase C (PLC) or phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2 ) signal transduction pathways. Initial experiments were designed to verify that 5-HT 2A receptor-mediated PLA 2 activation in NIH3T3 cells is independent from, and not a subsequent result of, 5-HT 2A receptor-mediated PLC activation. In addition, we also explored the extent of receptor reserve for the endogenous ligand, 5-HT, for both PLC and PLA 2 activation. Finally, we employed structurally diverse ligands from the tryptamine, phenethylamine, and ergoline families of 5-HT 2A receptor agonists to test the hypothesis of agonist-directed trafficking of 5-HT 2A receptor-mediated PLC and PLA 2 activation. To measure agonist-induced pathway activation, we determined the potency and intrinsic activity of each compound to activate either the PLA 2 pathway or the PLC pathway. The results showed that a larger receptor reserve exists for 5-HTinduced PLA 2 activation than for 5-HT-induced PLC activation. Furthermore, the data support the hypothesis of agonist-directed trafficking in NIH3T3-5HT 2A cells because structurally distinct ligands were able to induce preferential activation of the PLC or PLA 2 signaling pathway. From these data we conclude that structurally distinct ligands can differentially regulate 5-HT 2A receptor signal transduction.

A series of fluorinated analogues of the hallucinogenic tryptamines N,N-diethyltryptamine (DET), 4-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (4-OH-DMT, psilocin), and 5-methoxy-DMT was synthesized to investigate possible explanations for the inactivity of 6-fluoro-DET as a hallucinogen and to determine the effects of fluorination on the molecular recognition and activation of these compounds at serotonin receptor subtypes. The target compounds were evaluated using in vivo behavioral assays for hallucinogen-like and 5-HT(1A) agonist activity and in vitro radioligand competition assays for their affinity at 5-HT(2A), 5-HT(2C), and 5-HT(1A) receptor sites. Functional activity at the 5-HT(2A) receptor was determined for all compounds. In addition, for some compounds functional activity was determined at the 5-HT(1A) receptor. Hallucinogen-like activity, evaluated in the two-lever drug discrimination paradigm using LSD-trained rats, was attenuated or abolished for all of the fluorinated analogues. One of the tryptamines, 4-fluoro-5-methoxy-DMT (6), displayed high 5-HT(1A) agonist activity, with potency greater than that of the 5-HT(1A) agonist 8-OH-DPAT. The ED(50) of 6 in the two-lever drug discrimination paradigm using rats trained to discriminate the 5-HT(1A) agonist LY293284 was 0.17 micromol/kg, and the K(i) at [(3)H]8-OH-DPAT-labeled 5-HT(1A) receptors was 0.23 nM. The results indicate that fluorination of hallucinogenic tryptamines generally has little effect on 5-HT(2A/2C) receptor affinity or intrinsic activity. Affinity at the 5-HT(1A) receptor was reduced, however, in all but one example, and all of the compounds tested were full agonists but with reduced functional potency at this serotonin receptor subtype. The one notable exception was 4-fluoro-5-methoxy-DMT (6), which had markedly enhanced 5-HT(1A) receptor affinity and functional potency. Although it is generally considered that hallucinogenic activity results from 5-HT(2A) receptor activation, the present results suggest a possible role for involvement of the 5-HT(1A) receptor with tryptamines.

The affinity of ligands for either the 5-HT(2A) or 5-HT(2C) agonist binding site was enhanced by modification of the 2,5-oxygen substituents that are found in typical hallucinogenic amphetamines such as 4b (DOB). Restriction of the conformationally flexible 2,5-dimethoxy substituents into fused dihydrofuran rings generally resulted in increased potency relative to the parent 2,5-dimethoxy compounds. The pure enantiomers of these arylalkylamines were obtained by enantiospecific synthesis that involved acylation of the heterocyclic nucleus 7 with N-trifluoroacetyl-protected D- or L-alanyl chloride, followed by ketone reduction and N-deprotection. The enantiomers demonstrated modest stereoselectivity at the two receptors. Several general trends within these classes of new compounds were observed during their pharmacological investigation. For most pairs of optical isomers tested, the R-enantiomers of the compounds containing heterocycle 7 bound with only slightly higher affinity than their S-antipodes at the 5-HT(2A) and 5-HT(2C) receptors. Likewise, functional studies indicated that the R-enantiomers generally displayed increased potency compared to the S-enantiomers. Aromatization of the dihydrofuran rings of these arylalkylamines further increased affinity and potency. Only a few compounds were full agonists with most of them possessing intrinsic activities in the range of 60-80%. These compounds with a fully aromatic linear tricyclic nucleus are some of the highest-affinity ligands for the 5-HT(2A) receptor reported to date.

Previous studies in our laboratory have shown that in NIH3T3-5HT 2A cells, 5-HT-induced AA release is PLA 2 -coupled and independent of 5-HT 2A receptor-mediated PLC activation. Although 5-HT 2A receptor-mediated PLC activation is known to be Ga q -coupled, much less is understood about 5-HT 2A receptor-mediated PLA 2 activation. Therefore, the studies presented here were aimed at elucidating the signal transduction pathway linking stimulation of the 5-HT 2A receptor to PLA 2 activation. By employing various selective inhibitors, toxins, and antagonistic peptide constructs, we propose that the 5-HT 2A receptor can couple to PLA 2 activation through two parallel signaling cascades. Initial experiments were designed to examine the role of pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins, namely Ga i/o , as well as pertussis toxin-insensitive G proteins, namely Ga 12/13 , in 5-HT-induced AA release. Furthermore, inactivation of both Gbc heterodimers and Rho proteins resulted in decreased agonist-induced AA release, without having any effect on PLC-IP accumulation. We also demonstrated 5-HT 2A receptor-mediated phosphorylation of ERK1,2 and p38. Moreover, pretreatment with selective ERK1,2 and p38 inhibitors resulted in decreased 5-HT-induced AA release. Taken together, these results suggest that the 5-HT 2A receptor expressed in NIH3T3 cells can couple to PLA 2 activation though a complex signaling mechanism involving both Ga i/o -associated Gbc-mediated ERK1,2 activation and Ga 12/13 -coupled, Rho-mediated p38 activation.

Lysergic acid amides were prepared from (R,R)-(-)-, (S,S)-(+)-, and cis-2,4-dimethyl azetidine. The dimethylazetidine moiety is considered here to be a rigid analogue of diethylamine, and thus, the target compounds are all conformationally constrained analogues of the potent hallucinogenic agent, N,N-diethyllysergamide, LSD-25. Pharmacological evaluation showed that (S,S)-(+)-2,4-dimethylazetidine gave a lysergamide with the highest LSD-like behavioral activity in the rat two lever drug discrimination model that was slightly more potent than LSD itself. This same diastereomer also had the highest affinity and functional potency at the rat serotonin 5-HT(2A) receptor, the presumed target for hallucinogenic agents, and a receptor affinity profile in a panel of screens that was most similar to that of LSD itself. Both cis- and the (R,R)-trans-dimethylazetidines gave lysergamides that were less potent in all relevant assays. The finding that the S,S-dimethylazetidine gave a lysergamide with pharmacology most similar to LSD indicates that the N,N-diethyl groups of LSD optimally bind when they are oriented in a conformation distinct from that observed in the solid state by X-ray crystallography. The incorporation of isomeric dialkylazetidines into other biologically active molecules may be a useful strategy to model the active conformations of dialkylamines and dialkylamides.