Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Contractility Measurements of Human Uterine Smooth Muscle to Aid Drug Development
Published on: January 26, 2018
Subtlety of the structure-affinity and structure-efficacy relationships around a nonpeptide oxytocin receptor agonist
Marie-Céline Frantz1, Jordi Rodrigo, Laure Boudier
1Laboratoire d'Innovation Thérapeutique, UMR 7200 CNRS/Université de Strasbourg, Faculte de Pharmacie, 74 route du Rhin, BP60024, 67401 Illkirch, France.
Abstract:
Very few nonpeptide oxytocin agonists have currently been reported, and none of them seem suitable for the in vivo investigation of the oxytocin mediated functions. In an attempt to rationalize the design of better tools, we have systematically studied the structural determinants of the affinity and efficacy of representative ligands of the V(1a), V(2), and OT receptor subtypes. Despite apparently obvious similarity between the ligand structures on one hand, and between the receptor subtypes on the other hand, the binding affinity and the functional activity profiles of truncated and hybrid ligands highlight the subtlety of ligand-receptor interactions for obtaining nonpeptide OT receptor agonists.
Related Concept Videos
Adrenergic Agonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship
Aromatic ring substitutions: Substituting the aromatic ring with –OH groups at positions 3 and 4 yields catecholamines (e.g., epinephrine), which have a high affinity for adrenoceptors. Hydrogen bonding between –OH groups and receptors enhances adrenergic activity.
Separation of the aromatic...
Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship
Reversible inhibitors display short to medium durations of action. Short-acting agents include simple alcohols with...
Drug-Receptor Interaction: Agonist
Agonists can bind to receptors in different ways. Some agonists bind directly to the receptor's active site, mimicking the endogenous ligand's action.
Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship
The direct-acting...
The Two-State Receptor Model
The binding affinity of a drug determines its interaction with one...
Drug-Receptor Interactions
Several parameters, such as the drug's affinity for its receptor and its efficacy, which is its ability to activate the receptor, determine the drug's effect on the tissue.
