Comparison of lowest energy conformations of dimethylcurine and methoxyverapamil: evidence of ternary association of calcium channel, Ca2+, and calcium entry blockers.

Verapamil and dimethylcurine are Ca2+ entry blockers of essentially different chemical structures which presumably bind to the same arylalkylamine receptor of the L-type Ca channel. A systematic conformational analysis of methoxyverapamil (D-600) and dimethylcurine has been carried out using a molecular mechanics method. The lowest minimum-energy conformations of D-600 are predisposed to chelate Ca2+ by four oxygen atoms of the stacked methoxyphenyl moieties. Comparison of the lowest energy conformations of D-600-Ca2+ and dimethylcurine revealed a similar spatial disposition of cationic groups and methoxyphenyl moieties in the two compounds. A three-dimensional model of arylalkylamine receptor was suggested which incorporates two nucleophilic areas of the Ca channel. Dimethylcurine binds to these areas by its quaternary amine functions, whereas D-600 does so by amine function and via coordinated Ca2+. The results support the hypotheses on ternary complex formation between the ligands of Ca channel, their receptors, and Ca2+.