4-alkyl- and 4-cinnamylglutamic acid analogues are potent GluR5 kainate receptor agonists

Enantiomerically pure (2S,4R)-4-substituted glutamic acids were prepared an d tested for homomeric GluR5 and GluR6 kainate subtype receptor affinity. S ome of the 4-cinnamyl analogues showed high selectivity and potency (K-i < 25 nM) for the GluR5 receptors. The greatest selectivity and potency were a chieved with the 3-(2-naphthyl)prop-2-enyl compound. This compound, LY33943 4, has negligible activity at the AMPA and kainate receptors GluR1, -2, -4 and -6. Although, LY339434 shows agonist activity at NMDA receptors in cult ural hippocampal neurons (approximate EC50 of 2.5 mu M), we consider that L Y339434 should be a useful pharmacological tool for the investigation of th e functional role of GluR5 kainate receptors.