Nicotine has multiple behavioral effects as a result of its action in the central nervous system. Nicotine strengthens the behaviors that lead to nicotine administration (primary reinforcement), and this effect of nicotine depends on mesotelencephalic systems of the brain that are critical to goal directed behavior, reward, and reinforcement. Nicotine also serves as a ‘reinforcement enhancer’ – drug administration enhances behaviors that lead to other drug and nondrug reinforcers. Although the reinforcement enhancing effects of nicotine may promote tobacco use in the face of associated negative health outcomes, the neuroanatomical systems that mediate this effect of nicotine have never been described. The ventral tegmental area (VTA) is a nucleus that serves as a convergence point in the mesotelencephalic system, plays a substantial role in reinforcement by both drug and nondrug rewards and is rich in both presynaptic and postsynaptic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Therefore, these experiments were designed to determine the role of the VTA and nAChR subtypes in the reinforcement enhancing effect of nicotine. Transiently inhibiting the VTA with a gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) agonist cocktail (baclofen and muscimol) reduced both primary reinforcement by a visual stimulus and the reinforcement enhancing effect of nicotine, without producing nonspecific suppression of activity. Intra-VTA infusions of a high concentration of mecamylamine a nonselective nAChR antagonist, or methylycaconitine, an α7 nAChR antagonist, did not reduce the reinforcement enhancing effect of nicotine. Intra-VTA infusions of a low concentration of mecamylamine and dihydro-beta-erythroidine (DHβE), a selective antagonist of nAChRs containing the *β2 subunit, attenuated, but did not abolish, the reinforcement enhancing effect of nicotine. In follow-up tests replacing systemic nicotine injections with intra-VTA infusions (70mM, 105mM) resulted in complete substitution of the reinforcement enhancing effects – increases in operant responding were comparable to giving injections of systemic nicotine. These results suggest that *β2-subunit containing nAChRs in the VTA play a role in the reinforcement enhancing effect of nicotine. However, when nicotine is administered systemically these reinforcement enhancing effects may depend on the action of nicotine at nAChRs in multiple brain nuclei.

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder generally affecting people above the age of 65 years. Even though the pathophysiological hallmarks of AD were established more than a hundred years ago, there is yet to be a drug that can stop its characteristic neuronal damage. Of the five currently FDA-approved drugs, galantamine has a unique mechanism of action. Apart from being an AChE inhibitor, galantamine can effectively potentiate (positive allosteric modulator) the effect of agonists at nAChRs at concentrations lower than those required for its action as an AChE inhibitor. Perhaps the clinical benefits observed with galantamine are associated mainly with its nAChRs-PAM action and not its AChE inhibitory effect. Inhibiting AChE causes a delay in the degradation of ACh and a prolonged presence of ACh might act at either nAChRs or mAChRs. By indirectly targeting mAChRs as well, AChE inhibitors may lead to potential side effects. Hence there is a need for specific nAChR agents. The aim of this study was to identify the structural features of galantamine that contribute solely towards its a7 nAChR-PAM effect. In doing so, we wish to divorce the structural features that might be important for interacting with AChE. Using the deconstruction approach, we have synthesized structurally abbreviated analogs of galantamine. To study the probable interactions, we docked these molecules in human a7 nAChR homology models. Ultimately, it is of interest to determine which analogs retain the PAM activity of galantamine and to address that, a preliminary screening was performed with a select few analogs using the two-electrode voltage clamp technique

α7 Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are one of two major classes of receptors responsible for cholinergic neurotransmission in the central nervous system. The existence of α7 neuronal nAChRs in different regions of the nervous system suggests their involvement in certain essential physiological functions as well as in disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), drug dependence, and depression. This project was aimed toward the discovery and development of small–molecule arylguanidines that modulate α7 nAChR function with improved subtype-selectivity through an allosteric approach. Identifying the required structural features of these small molecules allowed optimization of their negative allosteric modulator (NAM) actions at α7 neuronal nAChRs. MD-354 (3-chlorophenylguanidine) was the first small–molecule NAM at α7 nAChRs; however, it also binds at 5-HT3 receptors. The N-methyl analog of MD-354 appeared to be more selective toward α7 nAChRs than 5-HT3 receptors. Comparative studies using two series of novel compounds based on MD-354 and its N-methyl analog explored the aryl 3-position and investigated whether or not the MD-354 series and the N-methyl series bind in the same manner. Biological potencies of the MD-354 series and the N-methyl series of compounds, obtained from electrophysiological assays with Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing human α7 nAChRs in two-electrode voltage-clamp assays, showed that N-(3-iodophenyl)-N- methylguanidine (28) is the most potent analog at α7 nAChRs. Our comparative study and Hansch analyses indicated different binding modes of the two series. In addition, we investigated: i) the length/size of the aliphatic side chain at the anilinic nitrogen, ii) the effect of alkylating the guanidine nitrogen atoms, and iii) the necessity of the presence of these nitrogen atoms for the inhibitory effects of arylguanidines at α7 nAChRs. In efforts to explain the varied functional activity of these arylguanidines, homology models of the extracellular domain and the transmembrane domain of human α7 nAChRs were developed, allosteric sites identified, and docking studies and hydropathic analysis conducted. The 3D quantitative structure-activity relationships for our compounds were also analyzed using CoMFA. A pharmacophore for arylguanidines as α7 nAChR NAMs was identified. Together, these data should be useful for the subsequent design of novel arylguanidine analogs for their potential treatment of neurological disorders.

Au cours de ce travail, nous nous sommes intéressés à développer des voies de synthèse convergentes et diastéréosélectives en vue de préparer des analogues pyrrolidiniques des alcaloïdes de Lobelia comme nouveaux ligands des récepteurs nicotiniques centraux à l’acétylcholine. Ainsi, nous avons mis au point une méthode « bidirectionnelle » basée sur des réactions de double aza-Michael et donnant accès à des pyrrolidines 2,5-disubstituées. Une étude de réactivité a également été mené afin d’améliorer la chimiosélectivité des différents processus réactionnels impliquant des réactions d’aza-Michael dans des séquences de cyclisation tandem. Dans un second temps, nous avons décrit une voie dite « d’élongation monodirectionnelle » permettant d’accéder à des 2,5-trans-pyrrolidines énantiopures. Enfin, la dernière partie de ce manuscrit aborde une étude prospective de réductions désymétrisantes pour la synthèse d’homologues pyrrolidiniques de la lobéline. / The present work has been dedicated to the development of convergent and diastereoselective routes for the preparation of pyrrolidine Lobelia alkaloid analogues as novel neuronal nicotinic receptors. We have settled a selective bidirectional strategy based on chain homologation by double olefination followed by aza-Michael reactions as a straightforward access to 2,5-cis-disubstituted pyrrolidines that was extended to the synthesis of 2,6-cis-piperidines. Additional studies have been carried out in order to drive chemoselectivities in the course of competitive tandem aza-Michael-induced ring closure reactions. In the same time, we also described a monodirectional route to access 2,5-trans-disubstituted pyrrolidines. The last part of this manuscript has been finally dedicated to a prospective reductive desymmetrization study for the rapid and enantioselective synthesis of pyrrolobeline homologues.

Os receptores nicotínicos de acetilcolina (colinérgicos) (nAChRs) neuronais são proteínas integrais de membrana e pertencem à família de canais iônicos controlados por ligante, compostos por subunidades α e β. Esses receptores desempenham um papel-chave na transmissão de sinal entre os neurônios nos sistemas nervoso central e periférico. O subtipo α3β4, por exemplo, é o nAChR neuronal mais expresso no sistema nervoso autônomo; nAChRs contendo a subunidade α3 estão presentes em alta densidade no gânglio cervical superior, glândulas pineal e adrenais. Também estão presentes na substancia nigra, striatum, hipocampo, locus ceruleus, tracto habênulo-interpeduncular e cerebelo. Os nAChRs são inibidos por uma variedade de substâncias químicas, incluindo toxinas naturais, anestésicos locais, drogas de abuso (por, exemplo, cocaína) e compostos clinicamente importantes (tranqüilizantes, por exemplo). O mecanismo de inibição desses receptores tem sido investigado intensivamente. Neste estudo, nós investigamos o mecanismo pelo qual a tacrina (9-1,2,3,4-tetraidroaminoacridina), um agente usado clinicamente no tratamento da doença de Alzheimer, inibe o nAChR α3β4 de rato recombinante expresso nas células KXα3β4R2, utilizando uma técnica de cinética química rápida. A constante de dissociação da nicotina do sítio que controla a ativação do receptor, Kd, é 23 µM e a constante de equilíbrio de abertura do canal, Φ-1, é 4. A tacrina inibe o receptor competitivamente, com um KI de 0,77 µM. / Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine (cholinergic) receptors (nAChRs) are integral membrane proteins and belong to the family of ligand-gated cation channels composed by α and β subunits. These receptors play a key role in the signal transmission between neurons in the central and peripheral nervous system. The α3β4 subtype, for example, is the most expressed neuronal nAChR in autonomic ganglia; α3-containing nAChRs are present at particularly high density in the superior cervical ganglia, pineal, and adrenal glands. They are also present in the substancia nigra, striatum, hippocampus, locus ceruleus, habenulo-interpeduncular tract and cerebellum. The nAChRs are inhibited by a variety of chemical substances, including natural toxins, local anesthetics, abused drugs (e.g., cocaine) and clinically important compounds (e.g., tranquilizers). The mechanism of inhibition of these receptors has been intensively investigated. In this study, we investigated the mechanism by which tacrine (9-1,2,3,4-tetahydroaminoacridine), an agent used clinically to treat Alzheimers disease, inhibits the recombinant rat α3β4 nAChR expressed in KXα3β4R2 cells, using a rapid chemical kinetic technique. The nicotine dissociation constant for the site controlling receptor activation, Kd, is 23 µM and the channel-opening equilibrium constant, Φ-1, is 4. Tacrine inhibits the receptor competitively, with a KI of 0.77 µM.

Os receptores nicotínicos de acetilcolina (colinérgicos) (nAChRs) neuronais são proteínas integrais de membrana e pertencem à família de canais iônicos controlados por ligante, compostos por subunidades α e β. Esses receptores desempenham um papel-chave na transmissão de sinal entre os neurônios nos sistemas nervoso central e periférico. O subtipo α3β4, por exemplo, é o nAChR neuronal mais expresso no sistema nervoso autônomo; nAChRs contendo a subunidade α3 estão presentes em alta densidade no gânglio cervical superior, glândulas pineal e adrenais. Também estão presentes na substancia nigra, striatum, hipocampo, locus ceruleus, tracto habênulo-interpeduncular e cerebelo. Os nAChRs são inibidos por uma variedade de substâncias químicas, incluindo toxinas naturais, anestésicos locais, drogas de abuso (por, exemplo, cocaína) e compostos clinicamente importantes (tranqüilizantes, por exemplo). O mecanismo de inibição desses receptores tem sido investigado intensivamente. Neste estudo, nós investigamos o mecanismo pelo qual a tacrina (9-1,2,3,4-tetraidroaminoacridina), um agente usado clinicamente no tratamento da doença de Alzheimer, inibe o nAChR α3β4 de rato recombinante expresso nas células KXα3β4R2, utilizando uma técnica de cinética química rápida. A constante de dissociação da nicotina do sítio que controla a ativação do receptor, Kd, é 23 µM e a constante de equilíbrio de abertura do canal, Φ-1, é 4. A tacrina inibe o receptor competitivamente, com um KI de 0,77 µM. / Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine (cholinergic) receptors (nAChRs) are integral membrane proteins and belong to the family of ligand-gated cation channels composed by α and β subunits. These receptors play a key role in the signal transmission between neurons in the central and peripheral nervous system. The α3β4 subtype, for example, is the most expressed neuronal nAChR in autonomic ganglia; α3-containing nAChRs are present at particularly high density in the superior cervical ganglia, pineal, and adrenal glands. They are also present in the substancia nigra, striatum, hippocampus, locus ceruleus, habenulo-interpeduncular tract and cerebellum. The nAChRs are inhibited by a variety of chemical substances, including natural toxins, local anesthetics, abused drugs (e.g., cocaine) and clinically important compounds (e.g., tranquilizers). The mechanism of inhibition of these receptors has been intensively investigated. In this study, we investigated the mechanism by which tacrine (9-1,2,3,4-tetahydroaminoacridine), an agent used clinically to treat Alzheimers disease, inhibits the recombinant rat α3β4 nAChR expressed in KXα3β4R2 cells, using a rapid chemical kinetic technique. The nicotine dissociation constant for the site controlling receptor activation, Kd, is 23 µM and the channel-opening equilibrium constant, Φ-1, is 4. Tacrine inhibits the receptor competitively, with a KI of 0.77 µM.

Three-finger toxins (3FTX) are a group of peptides that affect multiple receptor types. One group of proteins affected by 3FTX are nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR). Structural information on how neurotoxins interact with nAChR is limited and is confined to a small group of neurotoxins. Therefore, in silico methods are valuable in understanding the interactions between 3FTX and different nAChR subtypes, but there are no established protocols to model 3FTX–nAChR interactions. We followed a homology modeling and protein docking protocol to address this issue and tested its success on three different systems. First, neurotoxin peptides co-crystallized with acetylcholine binding protein (AChBP) were re-docked to assess whether Rosetta protein–protein docking can reproduce the native poses. Second, experimental data on peptide binding to AChBP was used to test whether the docking protocol can qualitatively distinguish AChBP-binders from non-binders. Finally, we docked eight peptides with known α7 and muscle-type nAChR binding properties to test whether the protocol can explain the differential activities of the peptides at the two receptor subtypes. Overall, the docking protocol predicted the qualitative and some specific aspects of 3FTX binding to nAChR with reasonable success and shed light on unknown aspects of 3FTX binding to different receptor subtypes.

<p>Ionizing radiation is without a doubt an invaluable tool in diagnostic imaging as well as radiation therapy. With the growing number of medical and occupational exposures, together with challenges against the LNT model, low dose exposures and non-targeted effects have been subject to intensive research. Additionally, with the advances in the field of radiation therapy and longer life expectancy after the treatment, the risks associated with second malignancies following radiation therapy for various cancers has received a tremendous amount of attention. On the other hand, nicotine, as the addictive component of tobacco has been known for its adverse health effects and its relation to various types of cancers, accounting for one in 10 adult deaths worldwide. Both nicotine and low doses of radiation are amongst the stressors that widely affect the public. Surprisingly, the interactions between low-dose effects and nicotine exposure have not received the proper scientific attention. Our group has been involved in investigation of the non-targeted effects of radiation with a variety of endpoints. Different natural compounds and signalling molecules have also been studied in our lab for their possible role or contribution to bystander signalling. This research involves the study of the impact of nicotine on radiation-induced bystander effects and also radioadaptive responses. Different concentrations of nicotine were used to study the kinetics of the drug as well as any detrimental or modifying effects when used together with radiation. It was shown that nicotine has a protective effect on survival of the cells in certain concentrations that follows a biphasic model. Similar bimodal behaviour was observed with bystander effect. No adaptation to a challenge dose of radiation occurred as a result of incubation with varying concentrations of nicotine, nor was such an effect shown with a priming dose of radiation. The results of the present study suggest that nicotine has a complicated effect on the cells which can vary significantly depending on the concentrations used and also the duration of exposure. nAChRs may have an important role in the response of the bystander cells when nicotine is involved as the results showed a shift in the response of the receptors to nicotine. This thesis is aimed to shed light on the impact of nicotine and initiate more detailed investigations on pathways through which these effects are mediated.</p> / Master of Science (MSc)

Au cours de ce travail, nous avons développé des voies de synthèses convergentes et énantiosélectives en vue de préparer des analogues pyrrolidiniques des alcaloïdes de Lobelia comme nouveaux ligands des récepteurs nicotiniques à l’acétylcholine. Deux familles de ligands ont été réalisées par des méthodes d’élongation mono- ou bi-directionnelle basées respectivement sur des stratégies de désymétrisation précoce ou tardive au départ du succinaldéhyde.La première partie de ce manuscrit aborde la conception d’hybrides de lobéline, nicotine et d’agonistes naturels. Ces structures originales ont été obtenues diastéréosélectivement grâce à un intermédiaire commun issu d’une élongation monodirectionnelle du succinaldéhyde. Cette voie exploitera la chimie des iminiums masqués. La mise au point de cette synthèse s’est enrichie par la découverte et la valorisation d’une nouvelle famille de ligands chimériques.La seconde partie étudie la voie d’élongation bidirectionnelle basée sur des réactions de double aza-Michael suivies de la réduction désymétrisante tardive de pyrrolidines 2,5-phénacyl méso et pseudo-méso. Cette stratégie asymétrique s’inscrit dans une démarche d’économie d’atomes et d’étapes. La perspective majeure de ce travail est l’évaluation par électrophysiologie sur différents sous-types de récepteurs à l’acétylcholine d’une sélection de ligands hybrides.Les études de RSA menées sur ces familles de composés de haute homologie structurale permettront in fine d’améliorer les modèles prédictifs décrivant les transitions allostériques des récepteurs nicotiniques à l’acétylcholine / During this PhD work, convergent and diastereoselective routes for the preparation of pyrrolidine Lobelia alkaloid analogues have been developed as novel neuronal nicotinic receptor ligands. Two families of ligands have been synthesized by a strategy of mono- or bi-directional elongation of the succinaldehyde including early or late desymmetrization process respectively.The first part of this manuscript is dedicated to the preparation of hybrids of lobeline, nicotine and other natural agonists. These original structures have been diastereoselectively obtained thanks to a common intermediate resulting of the mono-elongation of succinaldehyde. This synthetic pathway uses the chemistry of masked iminium. The development of this strategy has been enriched by the discovery and the valorisation of a new chimeric ligand family.The second part studies the “bidirectional” elongation route, based on a ring-closing double aza-Michael reaction followed by the desymmetrizing reduction of meso and pseudo-meso 2,5-diphenacyl pyrrolidines. This asymmetric strategy constitutes a step- and atom-economical approach. The major perspective of this work is the biological evaluation of selected ligands by electrophysiology made on different nAChR subtypes.The SAR studies realized on these structurally homologue ligand families could allow the improvement of the predictive molecular models describing the allosteric conformations of the nAChRs.