Five-Membered N-Heterocyclic Scaffolds as Novel Amino Bioisosteres at γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Type A Receptors and GABA Transporters

Given the heterogeneity within the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor and transporter families, a detailed insight into the pharmacology is still relatively sparse. To enable studies of the physiological roles governed by specific receptor and transporter subtypes, a series of GABA analogues comprising five-membered nitrogen- and sulfur-containing heterocycles as amine bioisosteres were synthesized and pharmacologically characterized at native and selected recombinant GABA A receptors and GABA transporters. The dihydrothiazole and imidazoline analogues, 5 – 7, displayed moderate GAT activities and GABA A receptor binding affinities in the mid-nanomolar range ( K i, 90–450 nM). Moreover, they exhibited full and equipotent agonist activity compared to GABA at GABA A -αβγ receptors but somewhat lower potency as partial agonists at the GABA A -ρ 1 receptor. Stereoselectivity was observed for compounds 4 and 7 for the GABA A -αβγ receptors but not the GABA A -ρ 1 receptor. This study illustrates how subtle differences in these novel amino GABA bioisosteres result in diverse pharmacological profiles in terms of selectivity and efficacy.