Repurposing of a nucleoside scaffold from adenosine receptor agonists to opioid receptor antagonists

While screening off-target effects of rigid (N)methanocarba-adenosine 5′-methylamides as A3 adenosine receptor (AR) agonists, we discovered μM binding hits at the δ-opioid receptor (DOR) and translocator protein (TSPO). In an effort to increase OR and decrease AR affinity by structure activity analysis of this series, antagonist activity at κ-(K)OR appeared in 5′-esters (ethyl 24 and propyl 30), which retained TSPO interaction (μM). 7-Deaza modification of C2-(arylethynyl)-5′-esters but not 4′-truncation enhanced KOR affinity (MRS7299 28 and 29, Ki ≈ 40 nM), revealed μOR and DOR binding, and reduced AR affinity. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations located a putative KOR binding mode consistent with the observed affinities, placing C7 in a hydrophobic region. 3-Deaza modification permitted TSPO but not OR binding, and 1-deaza was permissive to both; ribose-restored analogues were inactive at both. Thus, we have repurposed a known AR nucleoside scaffold for OR antagonism, with a detailed hypothesis for KOR recognition.