Abstract
GABA was discovered to play an important role as the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the adult mammalian CNS 60 years ago. The conformational flexibility of GABA is important for its biological function, as it has been found to bind to different receptors with different conformations. In an effort to increase the lipophilicity and to reduce conformational flexibility of GABA itself, a polycyclic or cage hydrocarbon framework can be introduced into the 3D structure of GABA in order to better control the binding. This article explores the available synthetic methods, properties and activity of carbocyclic (cyclopropanes, cyclobutanes and cyclohexanes) and cage (adamantane and others) hydrocarbons – analogs of GABA with conformationally rigid carbon skeletons.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
This work was supported by the State Fund for Fundamental Research through the grant from the President of Ukraine for young scientists (IAL and TES, GP 2005–2010). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.