The New Jersey Institute of Technology's
Electronic Theses & Dissertations Project

Title:	Development of pharmacophore and CoMFA studies for sigma2 receptor ligands
Author:	Wirpsza, Laura Ann
View Online:	njit-etd2008-099 (x, 39 pages ~ 2.5 MB pdf)
Department:	Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science
Degree:	Master of Science
Program:	Chemistry
Document Type:	Thesis
Advisory Committee:	Gund, Tamara M. (Committee chair) Venanzi, Carol A. (Committee member) Bozzelli, Joseph W. (Committee member)
Date:	2008-08
Keywords:	Receptor ligands Sigma 2 Pharmacophore model CoMFA model
Availability:	Unrestricted
Abstract:	This study describes the development of a pharmacophore and CoMIFA model for sigma 2 (σ2) receptor ligands. CoMFA studies were performed for 32 bioactive σ2 receptor ligands using the radioligand [H 3] (+) DTG in the presence of pentazocine. The pharmacophore was derived using Distance Comparisons (DISCOtech) from eight partially to highly active ~2 receptor ligands. All 32 compounds were calculated in three methods: AMi, HFI3~21G*, and B3LYP/3~21G* methods. These methods run in Gaussian 98 determined the geometry optimization and electrostatic charges for each molecule. CoMFA maps were developed using SYBYL ver. 7.2 to compare the electrostatic and steric properties of each calculation and molecule. With "leave-one-out" cross validation, the numbers of optimal components was determined. No cross validation was performed in a training set using the optimal components for each analysis. After the completion of a test set, it was verified that CoMIFA models derived from HF/3~21G* optimized geometries and atomic charges are more reliable in predicting the bioactivities of σ2 receptor ligands. Using the HF/3~21G* analysis, new active σ2 receptor ligands were designed and pK i values were predicted. It was determined that active σ2 receptor ligands require localization on the benzene ring contributed through an electron withdrawing group.