Diarylpropionitrile (DPN), also known as 2,3-bis(p-hydroxyphenyl)propionitrile (2,3-BHPPN), is a

synthetic Synthetic things are composed of multiple parts, often with the implication that they are artificial. In particular, 'synthetic' may refer to: Science * Synthetic chemical or compound, produced by the process of chemical synthesis * Synthetic ...

, nonsteroidal, and highly selective agonist of ERβ ( IC₅₀ = 15 nM) that is used widely in scientific research to study the function of this

receptor Receptor may refer to: *Sensory receptor, in physiology, any structure which, on receiving environmental stimuli, produces an informative nerve impulse *Receptor (biochemistry), in biochemistry, a protein molecule that receives and responds to a n ...

. It is 70-fold more selective for ERβ over ERα, and has 100-fold lower affinity for GPER (GPR30) relative to estradiol. DPN produces antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like effects in animals via activation of the endogenous oxytocin system. First reported in 2001, DPN was the first selective ERβ agonist to be discovered, and was followed by

prinaberel Prinaberel ( INN, USAN) (developmental code names ERB-041, WAY-202041) is a synthetic, nonsteroidal, and highly selective agonist of the ERβ subtype of the estrogen receptor. It is used in scientific research to elucidate the role of the ER� ...

(ERB-041, WAY-202041),

WAY-200070 WAY-200070 is a synthetic, nonsteroidal, highly selective agonist of ERβ. It possesses 68-fold selectivity for ERβ over ERα ( EC50 = 2 nM and 155 nM, respectively). WAY-200070 has been found to enhance serotonergic and dopaminergic neurotrans ...

, and

8β-VE2 8β-VE2, or 8β-vinylestradiol, also known as 8β-vinylestra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3β,17β-diol, is a synthetic estrogen featuring an estradiol core. It is a highly potent and selective agonist of the ERβ that is used in scientific research to stu ...

in 2004,

ERB-196 ERB-196, also known as WAY-202196, is a synthetic nonsteroidal estrogen that acts as a highly selective agonist of the ERβ. It possesses 78-fold selectivity for the ERβ over the ERα. The drug was under development by Wyeth for the treatment o ...

(WAY-202196) in 2005, and certain

phytoestrogen A phytoestrogen is a plant-derived xenoestrogen (see estrogen) not generated within the endocrine system, but consumed by eating plants or manufactured foods. Also called a "dietary estrogen", it is a diverse group of naturally occurring nonster ...

s like

liquiritigenin Liquiritigenin is a flavanone that was isolated from ''Glycyrrhiza uralensis'', and is found in a variety of plants, including '' Glycyrrhiza glabra'' (licorice). It is an estrogenic compound which acts as a selective agonist of the ERβ subtype ...

and

nyasol Nyasol, also known as ''cis''-hinokiresinol or as (''Z'')-hinokiresinol, is a lignan that is found in '' Anemarrhena asphodeloides''.Kwon, J., Kondaji, G., Song, S., Kim, C., Lee, K., Kim, W. K., & Choi, Y. (2013). Synthesis of naturally occurring ...

(''cis''-hinokiresinol) since 2007. DPN is a racemic mixture of two enantiomers, (R)-DPN and (S)-DPN. Relative to (R)-DPN, (S)-DPN has between 3- and 7-fold higher affinity for ERβ and appears to have higher intrinsic activity in activating ERβ. However, both enantiomers have very high affinity, potency, selectivity for ERβ and efficaciously activate ERβ. In any case, it has been suggested that (S)-DPN might be the preferred enantiomer to use for scientific research.

References

GPER agonists Nitriles Phenols Selective ERβ agonists {{genito-urinary-drug-stub

See also

References