Structure -activity relationships of 4-hydroxy-3-nitroquinolin-2(1H)-ones as novel antagonists at the glycine site of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors

A series of 4-hydroxy-3-nitroquinolin-2(1H)-ones (HNQs) was synthesized by nitration of the corresponding 2,4-quinolinediols. The HNQs were evaluated as antagonists at the glycine site of NMDA receptors by inhibition of [H-3]DCKA binding to rat brain membranes. Selected HNQs were also tested for functional antagonism by electrophysiological assays in Xenopus oocytes expressing either 1a/2C subunits of NMDA receptors or rat brain AMPA receptors. The structure-activity relationships (SAR) of HNQs showed that substitutions in the 5-, 6-, and 7-positions in general increase potency while substitutions in the 8-position cause a sharp reduction in potency. Among the HNQs tested, 5,6,7-trichloro HNQ (8i) was the most potent antagonist with an IC50 of 220 nM in [H-3]DCKA binding assay and a K-b of 79 nM from electrophysiological assays. Measured under steady-state conditions HNQ 8i is 240-fold selective for NMDA over AMPA receptors. The SAR of HNQs was compared with those of 1,4-dihydroquinoxaline-2,3-diones (QXs) and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline-2,3,4-trione 3-oximes (QTOs). In general, HNQs have similar potencies to QXs with the same benzene ring substitution pattern but are about 10 times less active than the corresponding QTOs. HNQs are more selective for NMDA receptors than the corresponding QXs and QTOs. The similarity of the SAR of HNQs, QXs, and QTOs suggested that these three classes of antagonists might bind to the glycine site in a similar manner. With appropriate substitutions, HNQs represent a new class of potent and highly selective NMDA receptor glycine site antagonists.