Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies

About: Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies is a nonprofit organization based out in San Diego, California, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: T cell & Antigen. The organization has 2323 authors who have published 2217 publications receiving 112618 citations.

Scaffold ranking and positional scanning utilized in the discovery of nAChR-selective compounds suitable for optimization studies.

Abstract: Nicotine binds to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR), which can exist as many different subtypes. The α4β2 nAChR is the most prevalent subtype in the brain and possesses the most evidence linking it to nicotine seeking behavior. Herein we report the use of mixture based combinatorial libraries for the rapid discovery of a series of α4β2 nAChR selective compounds. Further chemistry optimization provided compound 301, which was characterized as a selective α4β2 nAChR antagonist. This compound displayed no agonist activity but blocked nicotine-induced depolarization of HEK cells with an IC50 of approximately 430 nM. 301 demonstrated nearly 500-fold selectivity for binding and 40-fold functional selectivity for α4β2 over α3β4 nAChR. In total over 5 million compounds were assessed through the use of just 170 samples in order to identify a series of structural analogues suitable for future optimization toward the goal of developing clinically relevant smoking cessation medications.

Kappa receptor selective opioid peptides

Abstract: The present invention provides novel opioid peptides which are selective for the kappa opiate receptor. In one embodiment, the kappa-selective opioid peptides have the general structure Ac-A1-B2-C3-Arg-Tyr-Arg-Tyr-Arg-Arg-Arg-NH2, (SEQ ID NO. 28), wherein A1 is Tyr or Arg, B2 is Arg or Phe, and C3 is Thr, Phe, or Met. In yet other embodiments, the kappa-selective opioid peptides have the general structure (D)Phe-D4-E5-F6 (SEQ ID NO. 29) or (D)Nle-D4-E5-F6 (SEQ ID NO. 30), where in both of these formulae D4 is (D)NapAla or (D)Phe, E5 is (D)Nle, Trp, or (D)Ile, and F6 is (D)Arg or (D)ChAla.

Solid-Phase Synthesis of Substituted Imidazoline-Tethered 2,3-Diketopiperazines, Cyclic Ureas, and Cyclic Thioureas

Abstract: Efficient methods for the solid-phase synthesis of imidazoline-tethered 2,3-diketopiperazines, cyclic ureas, and cyclic thioureas are described. Following the exhaustive reduction of resin-bound dipeptides derived from orthogonally protected diamino acids, the primary amine of the resulting tetraamines was selectively protected with Dde. The compounds were then selectively cyclized via their secondary amines with three different diimidazole derivatives ((COIm)2, COIm2, CSIm2). Upon Dde removal, the compounds were selectively N-acylated and dehydratively cyclized with POCl3 to afford the imidazoline-tethered analogues in moderate yield and high purity. These procedures have been extended to prepare mixture-based combinatorial libraries. Details of the selection of building blocks for preparation of the positional scanning libraries based on the “libraries from libraries” approach are discussed.