Theanine and its derivatives : stereoselective synthesis and biological evaluation in glutamatergic synapse.

La L-Théanine (L-5-N-éthylglutamine) est un acide aminé présent dans le thé vert et qui a une structure similaire à celle de l'acide glutamique, le neurotransmetteur majoritaire du système nerveux central, SNC. La L-théanine possède la capacité de traverser la barrière hémato-encéphalique en plus de ses nombreuses activités physiologiques et pharmacologiques, anxiolytique et relaxante. La théanine et ses dérivés sont donc considérés comme des outils indispensables pour la compréhension de la synapse glutamatergique plus précisément. Nous avons synthétisé la théanine énantiomériquement pure (L et D). Nous avons développé deux nouvelles méthodes de synthèse de la théanine optiquement pure. Ensuite, nous avons décrit la préparation des dérivés 5-N-alkylés de la théanine et les dipeptides -glutamique en tant qu'analogues 5-N-substitués de la théanine. Dans le but d'élargir l'éventail d'applications de la Théanine ayant un intérêt biologique, nous avons synthétisé des dipeptides contenant la Théanine. Nous présentons également un accès aux dérivés 4-arylés de la théanine, via une alkylation régio et stéréosélective de l'acide pyroglutamique jamais décrit dans la littérature. L'analyse rigoureuse des intermédiaires réactionnels et des produits finaux par les RX, la RMN 1H à 600 MHZ et l'HRMS a prouvé l'obtention d'un seul diastéréoisomère (2S, 4R)-4-aryle théanineLes résultats des tests biologiques, utilisant la technique de l'imagerie calcique, montrent que les deux énantiomères L et D de la théanine possède un effet agoniste vis-à-vis les récepteurs NMDA et que cet effet est beaucoup plus important dans le cas de l'énantiomère (D). Parmi les analogues 5-N-alkylés de la théanine ayant un effet agoniste spécifique des récepteurs NMDA, la 5-N-Propyl-Gln (L et D) montre une activité en tant qu'agoniste beaucoup plus importante que la théanine même (naturelle ou synthétique) et aucun effet n'a été observé sur les récepteurs AMPA et métabotropiques. La L-théanine et ses dérivés pourraient donc être des structures intéressantes pour développer de nouveaux outils pharmacologiques nécessaires à l'étude des récepteurs glutamatergiques (métabotropiques et/ ou ionotropiques).L-Theanine (5-N-L-ethylglutamine) which is an amino acid found in green tea, it has a structure similar to that of glutamic acid. L-theanine has the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier in addition to its physiological and pharmacological activities.Given the importance of this molecule as essential for the investigation of physiological roles of CNS tools, we synthesized the enantiomerically pure theanine (L and D). A serie of 5-N-substituted theanine were also synthesized. In order to broaden the range of applications of theanine, we synthesized dipeptides containing Theanine for the purpose of obtaining products that have biological significance. The regio and stereoselectively synthesized analogs of L-theanine in the 4-position substituted with an aryl group has been developed to be tested at the level of glutamate receptors.The results of biological tests, using calcium imaging technique, show that theanine with its two enantiomers (D and L) has an agonistic effect vis-à-vis the NMDA receptors and that this effect was much greater with the enantiomer (D). Among the 5-N-alkylated analogs of theanine which they had only an agonistic effect on the NMDA receptor, 5-N-Propyl-Gln (L and D) has activity as an agonist much larger than the theanine and no effects were scored on AMPA receptors and metabotropic. L-theanine and its derivatives could be interesting structures to develop new pharmacological tools to study glutamate receptors (metabotropic and / or ionotropic)

Diastereospecific synthesis of new 4-substituted L-theanine derivatives.

International audienceConsidering the biological activity of L-theanine as a potent agonist of NMDA receptors, impacting on glutamatergic synapse activity, we have developed an asymmetric synthesis of new enantiomerically pure 4-substituted L-theanine derivatives. The key step is a stereospecific alkylation on a previously synthesized and correctly protected (S)-pyroglutamate

Characterization of l -Theanine Excitatory Actions on Hippocampal Neurons: Toward the Generation of Novel N -Methyl- d -aspartate Receptor Modulators Based on Its Backbone

International audienceL-Theanine (or L-γ-N-ethyl-glutamine) is the major amino acid found in Camellia sinensis. It has received much attention because of its pleiotropic physiological and pharmacological activities leading to health benefits in humans, especially. We describe here a new, easy, efficient, and environmentally friendly chemical synthesis of L-theanine and L-γ-N-propyl-Gln and their corresponding D-isomers. L-Theanine, and its derivatives obtained so far, exhibited partial coagonistic action at N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, with no detectable agonist effect at other glutamate receptors, on cultured hippocampal neurons. This activity was retained on NMDA receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes. In addition, both GluN2A and GluN2B containing NMDA receptors were equally modulated by L-theanine. The stereochemical change from L-theanine to D-theanine along with the substitution of the ethyl for a propyl moiety in the γ-N position of Land D-theanine significantly enhanced the biological efficacy, as measured on cultured hippocampal neurons. L-Theanine structure thus represents an interesting backbone to develop novel NMDA receptor modulators

The Glutathione Metabolite γ-Glutamyl-Glutamate Partially Activates Glutamate NMDA Receptors in Central Neurons With Higher Efficacy for GluN2B-Containing Receptors

International audienceGamma-L-glutamyl-L-glutamate (γ-Glu-Glu) was synthetized and further characterized for its activity on cultured neurons. We observed that γ-Glu-Glu elicited excitatory effects on neurons likely by activating mainly the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. These effects were dependent on the integrity of synaptic transmission as they were blocked by tetrodotoxin (TTX). We next evaluated its activity on NMDA receptors by testing it on cells expressing these receptors. We observed that γ-Glu-Glu partially activated NMDA receptors and exhibited better efficacy for NMDA receptors containing the GluN2B subunit. Moreover, at low concentration, γ-Glu-Glu potentiated the responses of glutamate on NMDA receptors. Finally, the endogenous production of γ-Glu-Glu was measured by LC-MS on the extracellular medium of C6 rat astroglioma cells. We found that extracellular γ-Glu-Glu concentration was, to some extent, directly linked to GSH metabolism as γ-Glu-Glu can be a by-product of glutathione (GSH) breakdown after γ-glutamyl transferase action. Therefore, γ-Glu-Glu could exert excitatory effects by activating neuronal NMDA receptors when GSH production is enhanced