Allosteric modulators of the adenosine A1 receptor: synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of 4-substituted 2-amino-3-benzoylthiophenes.

A series of 4-substituted 2-amino-3-benzoylthiophenes was screened using a functional assay of A(1)AR-mediated phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in intact CHO cells to identify both potential agonistic effects as well the ability to allosterically modulate the activity of the orthosteric agonist, R-PIA. More detailed concentration-response experiments were subsequently performed on two compounds (9a and 9o) utilizing both the ERK1/2 assay as well as a second assay of [(35)S]GTPgammaS binding to activated G proteins.