Evidence for a multiple binding mode of bispyridinium-type allosteric modulators of muscarinic receptors

The ligand binding properties of muscarinic receptors can be modulated by allosterically acting compounds. Here, a set of novel bispyridinium-type compounds was investigated which were designed to study structure-activity relationships and to provide more insight into the molecular events underlying the allosteric delay of the dissociation of [3H]N-methylscopolamine from muscarinic M2 receptors in porcine cardiac membranes. The parent compound, a non-substituted bispyridinium oxime, displayed a weak allosteric potency and was unable to prevent radioligand dissociation at maximum concentrations. Introduction of either a phthalimidomethyl-moiety or a dichlorobenzyl-moiety at one end of the parent compound led to a considerable increase of the allosteric activity with regard to both the potency and the maximum effect. In these unilaterally ring-substituted bispyridiniums, homologous contralateral non-aromatic modifications were accompanied by divergent potency shifts depending on whether the unilateral ring was phthalimidomethyl or dichlorobenzyl. The findings point to a multiple binding mode of bispyridinium compounds at M2 receptors in the [3H]N-methylscopolamine-occupied state, i.e., different orientations of the compounds at the allosteric binding area or even an interaction with distinct allosteric recognition sites.