The adenosine antagonist 9-chloro-2-(2-furanyl)[1,2,4]triazolo[1, 5-c]quinazolin-5-amine (CGS 15943) binds nonselectively to human A1, A2A, and A3 receptors with high affinity. Acylated derivatives and one alkyl derivative of the 5-amino group and other modifications were prepared in an effort to enhance A2B or A3 subtype potency. In general, distal modifications of the N5-substituent were highly modulatory to potency and selectivity at adenosine receptors, as determined in radioligand binding assays at rat brain A1 and A2A receptors and at recombinant human A3 receptors. In Chinese hamster ovary cells stably transfected with human A2B receptor cDNA, inhibition of agonist-induced cyclic AMP production was measured. An N5-(2-iodophenyl)acetyl derivative was highly selective for A2A receptors. An (R)-N5-alpha-methyl(phenylacetyl) derivative was the most potent derivative at A3 receptors, with a Ki value of 0.36 nM. A bulky N5-diphenylacetyl derivative, 13, displayed a Ki value of 0. 59 nM at human A3 receptors and was moderately selective for that subtype. Thus, a large, nondiscriminating hydrophobic region occurs in the A3 receptor in proximity to the N5-substituent. A series of straight-chain N5-aminoalkylacyl derivatives demonstrated that for A2B receptors the optimal chain length occurs with three methylene groups, i.e., the N5-gamma-aminobutyryl derivative 27 which had a pA2 value of 8.0 but was not selective for A2B receptors. At A1, A2A, and A3 receptors however the optimum occurs with four methylene groups. An N5-pivaloyl derivative, which was less potent than 27 at A1, A2A, and A3 receptors, retained moderate potency at A2B receptors. A molecular model of the 27-A2B receptor complex based on the structure of rhodopsin utilizing a "cross-docking" procedure was developed in order to visualize the environment of the ligand binding site.

Analogues of the P2 receptor antagonists pyridoxal-5'-phosphate and the 6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfonate derivative (PPADS), in which the phosphate group was cyclized by esterification to a CH2OH group at the 4-position, were synthesized. The cyclic pyridoxine-alpha4, 5-monophosphate, compound 2 (MRS 2219), was found to be a selective potentiator of ATP-evoked responses at rat P2X1 receptors with an EC50 value of 5.9 +/- 1.8 microM, while the corresponding 6-azophenyl-2',5'-disulfonate derivative, compound 3 (MRS 2220), was a selective antagonist. The potency of compound 3 at the recombinant P2X1 receptor (IC50 10.2 +/- 2.6 microM) was lower than PPADS (IC50 98.5 +/- 5.5 nM) or iso-PPADS (IC50 42.5 +/- 17.5 nM), although unlike PPADS its effect was reversible with washout and surmountable. Compound 3 showed weak antagonistic activity at the rat P2X3 receptor (IC50 58.3 +/- 0.1 microM), while at recombinant rat P2X2 and P2X4 receptors no enhancing or antagonistic properties were evident. Compounds 2 and 3 were found to be inactive as either agonists or antagonists at the phospholipase C-coupled P2Y1 receptor of turkey erythrocytes, at recombinant human P2Y2 and P2Y4 receptors, and at recombinant rat P2Y6 receptors. Similarly, compounds 2 and 3 did not have measurable affinity at adenosine A1, A2A, or A3 receptors. The lack of an aldehyde group in these derivatives indicates that Schiff's base formation with the P2X1 receptor is not necessarily required for recognition of pyridoxal phosphate derivatives. Thus, compounds 2 and 3 are relatively selective pharmacological probes of P2X1 receptors, filling a long-standing need in the P2 receptor field, and are also important lead compounds for future studies.