Novel [D-Arg2]dermorphin(1-4) analogs with mu-opioid receptor antagonist activity

Ten Tyr-D-Arg-Phe-betaAla-NH(2) (YRFB) analogs in which specific amino acid side chains are shifted to the N(alpha)-position were synthesized, and the binding to these analogs to the mu receptor and their in vitro biological properties were evaluated. Some analogs in which a N,N-bis(p-hydroxybenzyl)-Gly residue was substituted for Tyr(1) exhibited mu receptor antagonist activities (pA(2)) between 5.3 and 6.1. Of these analogs, [N,N-bis(p-hydroxybenzyl)-Gly(1)]YRFB was found to be the most potent specific antagonist for the mu-opioid receptor.     

Studies on analgesic oligopeptides. VI. Further studies of synthesis and biological properties of tripeptide alkylamides, Tyr-D-Arg-Phe-X

Nine analogs based on a structure of Tyr-D-Arg-Phe-X (X = alkylamides or alkylhydrazide containing electron-withdrawing atoms or groups) were newly synthesized and their biological properties were examined by the opioid receptor binding properties of mu-, delta- and kappa-receptors, guinea-pig ileum (GPI) assay and analgesic activity in the tail pinch test after subcutaneous administration in mice. Analogs with X = NHCF2CF3, Sar-ol, or NH(CH2)2CN showed potent activities in the GPI and analgesic assays and high affinity for mu-receptor. An analog with X = taurinamide was found to possess 4-fold higher mu-receptor selectivity than that of [D-Ala2, MePhe4, Gly-ol5]enkephalin (DAGO). The receptor binding properties of previously reported analogs [Chem. Pharm. Bull., 33, 1528 (1985); ibid., 33, 4865 (1985); ibid., 36, 4834 (1988)] were also examined for overall discussion of the structure-activity relationships of this series of tripeptide amides.     

Synthesis, biological evaluation and structural characterization of novel glycopeptide analogues of nociceptin N/OFQ

To examine if the biological activity of the N/OFQ peptide, which is the native ligand of the pain-related and viable drug target NOP receptor, could be modulated by glycosylation and if such effects could be conformationally related, we have synthesized three N/OFQ glycopeptide analogues, namely: [Thr(5)-O-α-D-GalNAc-N/OFQ] (glycopeptide 1), [Ser(10)-O-α-D-GalNAc]-N/OFQ (glycopeptide 2) and [Ser(10)-O-β-D-GlcNAc]-N/OFQ] (glycopeptide 3). They were tested for biological activity in competition binding assays using the zebrafish animal model in which glycopeptide 2 exhibited a slightly improved binding affinity, whereas glycopeptide 1 showed a remarkably reduced binding affinity compared to the parent compound and glycopeptide 3. The structural analysis of these glycopeptides and the parent N/OFQ peptide by NMR and circular dichroism indicated that their aqueous solutions are mainly populated by random coil conformers. However, in membrane mimic environments a certain proportion of the molecules of all these peptides exist as α-helix structures. Interestingly, under these experimental conditions, glycopeptide 1 (glycosylated at Thr-5) exhibited a population of folded hairpin-like geometries. From these facts it is tempting to speculate that nociceptin analogues showing linear helical structures are more complementary and thus interact more efficiently with the native NOP receptor than folded structures, since glycopeptide 1 showed a significantly reduced binding affinity for the NOP receptor.     

High-affinity mu opioid receptor ligands discovered by the screening of an exhaustively stereodiversified library of 1,5-enediols

In this communication, we report the synthesis of an exhaustively stereodiversified library of 16 1,5-enediols (2) and the screening of these compounds for mu opioid receptor (MOR) binding. The stereochemical configuration of 2 strongly impacted the binding affinity, and (S,S,S,R)-2 exhibited a Ki of 8.8 nM for MOR, comparable to that of endomorphin-2 (Ki = 1.2 nM). Moreover, compounds 2 exhibited 5-86-fold selectivity for MOR over delta opioid receptor (DOR) and 16-150-fold selectivity for MOR over kappa opioid receptor (KOR). Additionally, analogues of 2 were synthesized which showed the importance of the trans olefin for receptor binding but that modifications of the C-terminal amino acid were well tolerated. Ligand 11 is noteworthy because it retains only one of the amide bonds present in 1, but binds MOR with an affinity of 10 nM and 110- and 600-fold selectivity for MOR over DOR and KOR. These results demonstrate the utility of stereochemical diversity in the discovery of bioactive small molecules.     

Structure-activity relationships of GHRP-6 azapeptide ligands of the CD36 scavenger receptor by solid-phase submonomer azapeptide synthesis

The cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) class B scavenger receptor binds a variety of biologically endogenous ligands in addition to synthetic peptides (i.e., growth hormone-releasing peptides, GHRPs), which modulate biological function related to anti-angiogenic and anti-atherosclerotic activities. Affinity labeling had previously shown that GHRP-6 analogues such as hexarelin, [2-Me-W(2)]GHRP-6 (1), bind to the lysine-rich domain of the CD36 receptor. Moreover, the azapeptide analogue [aza-F(4)]GHRP-6, 2, exhibited a characteristic β-turn conformation as described by CD and NMR spectroscopy and a slightly higher CD36 binding affinity relative to hexarelin (1.34 and 2.37 μM, respectively), suggesting receptor binding was mediated by the conformation and the aromatic residues of these peptide sequences. Ligand-receptor binding interactions were thus explored using azapeptides to examine influences of side-chain diversity and backbone conformation. In particular, considering that aromatic cation interactions may contribute to binding affinity, we have explored the potential of introducing salt bridges to furnish GHRP-6 azapeptide ligands of the CD36 receptor. Fifteen aza-glutamic acid analogues related to 2 were prepared by submonomer solid-phase synthesis. The azapeptide side chains were installed by novel approaches featuring alkylation of resin-bound semicarbazone with Michael acceptors and activated allylic acetates in the presence of phosphazene base (BTPP). Moreover, certain Michael adducts underwent intramolecular cyclization during semicarbazone deprotection, leading to novel pyrrazoline and aza-pyroglutamate N-terminal residues. Structural studies indicated that contingent on sequence the [aza-Glu]GHRP-6 analogues exhibited CD spectra characteristic of random coil, polyproline type II and β-turn secondary structures in aqueous media. In covalent competition binding studies with the GHRP-6 prototype hexarelin bearing a radiotracer, certain [aza-Glu]GHRP-6 azapeptides retained relatively high (2-27 μM) affinity for the CD36 scavenger receptor.     

Opioid peptides: synthesis and biological properties of [(N gamma-glucosyl,N gamma-methoxy)-alpha, gamma-diamino-(S)-butanoyl]4-deltorphin-1-neoglycopeptide and related analogues

The [D-Ala2]deltorphin 1 sequence in which the aspartic acid residue is replaced by the N gamma-OCH3-alpha, gamma-diamino (S) butanoyl residue was synthesized using the Fmoc-chemistry-based solid phase procedure. The resulting deltorphin analogue was chemoselectively glucosylated by reaction with unprotected D-glucose (Glc). The Asn4-, (2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-Asn4- and the (2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactopyranosyl)-Asn4-deltorphin I were also prepared for comparison. The affinity of the new compounds for the delta-opioid receptor was expressed by the inhibition constant (Ki) of the binding of the delta-receptor selective ligand [3H]naltrindole (NTI) to rat brain membrane preparations. The in vitro biological activity of the synthetic peptides was compared with that of the mu-opioid receptor agonist dermorphin in guinea pig ileum (GPI) preparations and with that of the delta-opioid receptor agonist deltorphin I in mouse vas deferens (MVD) preparations. The substitution of Asp4 with Asn failed to affect drastically the Ki and IC50 values for delta-sites, suggesting that an electrostatic interaction does not play an essential role in the binding to delta-opioid sites. The steric hindrance of the side chain of the residue in position 4 affects binding to delta-sites. The increase of the Ki value is smaller when the sugar-peptide linkage involves the gamma-nitrogen of the Dab residue in comparison with the Asn amide side chain.     

Dimethyltyrosine, the Viagra of Opioids

Introduction Theintroductionof2′,6′dimethyl L tyrosine(Dmt)[1]attheN terminusofTyr Tic(1,2,3,4tetra hydroisoquinoline3carboxylicacid)containingδopi oidantagonists[2—8]enhancesreceptoraffinityand invitrobioactivitytoseveralordersofmagnitude[1]and itsap…     

Quantification of [Dmt1]DALDA in ovine plasma by on-line liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

The synthetic peptide [Dmt(1)]DALDA (Dmt-D-Arg-Phe-Lys-NH(2); Dmt = 2',6'-dimethyltyrosine; 'super-DALDA') is a mu opioid-receptor agonist. On-line liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry and the corresponding stable isotope-incorporated synthetic peptide internal standard were used to quantify [Dmt(1)]DALDA that had been extracted from ovine plasma samples. The [M+2H](2+) ion was used to construct the calibration curve, and the product ion was used for verification of the peptide. The detection sensitivity for the [Dmt(1)]DALDA [M+2H](2+) ion was 12.5 fmol and 50 fmol for the m/z 432.3 product ion. The concentration profile of [Dmt(1)]DALDA was determined from a set of ovine plasma samples. The molecular specificity of the peptide quantification was confirmed by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS).     

Discriminative affinity labelling of opioid receptors by enkephalin and morphiceptin analogues containing 3-nitro-2-pyridinesulphenyl-activated thiol residues.

The thiol groups of leucinthiol, cysteamine and cysteine incorporated into opioid peptides enkephalin and morphiceptin were activated by the 3-nitro-2-pyridinesulphenyl (Npys) group to form mixed disulphides highly reactive to a free thiol. Enkephalin analogues containing Npys-leucinthiol or -cysteine at positions 4, 5 and 6 exhibited high affinities for both mu and delta receptors, while morphiceptin analogues containing Npys-cysteine at positions 4 and 5 showed relatively weak affinity only for mu receptors. When these S-activated opioid peptides were incubated with rat brain membrane preparations, it was found, by binding assay using radiolabelled and non-labelled [D-Ala2,MePhe4,Gly-ol5]enkephalin, that they label mu opioid receptors in a dose-dependent manner. The concentrations required to label half of the receptors were 0.2-2 microM for enkephalins and 10-30 microM for morphiceptins. These results suggested that the thiol group labelled by S-activated enkephalins and morphiceptins is present in the ligand binding site of receptor protein, but not in GTPase-binding protein.     

Synthesis and biological activity of [MeTyr1,MeArg7,D-Leu8]-dynorphin A(1-9)-NHEt and [D-Cys2-Cys5,MeArg7,D-Leu8]-dynorphin A(1-9)-NH2

The opioid activities of [MeTyr1]-Dyn(1-7)-NH2, [MeTyr1,D-Leu8]-Dyn(1-8)-NH2, [MeTyr1,D-Leu8]-Dyn(1-9)-NH2, [MeTyr1,D-Leu8]-Dyn(1-10)-NH2, [MeTyr1,D-Leu8]-Dyn(1-11)-NH2, and [MeTyr1,D-Leu8,12]-Dyn(1-13)-NH2 were examined in the bioassays (guinea pig ileum, mouse vas deferens and rabbit vas deferens). Because [MeTyr1,D-Leu8]-Dyn(1-9)-NH2 showed the most potent opioid activity of the peptides tested, the biological activities of two kinds of Dyn(1-9) analogues, [MeTyr1,MeArg7,D-Leu8]-Dyn(1-9)-NHEt and [D-Cys2-Cys5,MeArg7,D-Leu8]-Dyn(1-9)-NH2 were determined and compared with those of [MeTyr1,MeArg7,D-Leu8]-Dyn(1-8)-NHEt and [D-Cys2-Cys5,MeArg7,D-Leu8]-Dyn(1-8)-NHEt in the three bioassays, in the receptor binding assays, and in the mouse tail pinch test after subcutaneous administration. The results suggest that the extension of the C-terminal in the peptide chain of [MeArg7,D-Leu8]-Dyn(1-8)-NH2 analogues by Arg is ineffective for increasing the kappa-opioid activities, kappa-receptor selectivity and/or analgesic effects of the peptides.     

Synthesis of phenoxyacetic acid derivatives as highly potent antagonists of gastrin/cholecystokinin-B receptors. III.

In order to improve the biological characteristics of DA-3934 (5), a novel gastrin/cholecystokinin (CCK)-B receptor antagonist, phenoxyacetic acid derivatives replacing the N-methyl-N-phenylcarbamoylmethyl moiety of 5 with various alkyl chains have been synthesized and their biological activity evaluated. The relationship between the structure of these compounds and their human gastrin receptor binding affinity showed that there should be the optimal size among the various N-alkyl chains. Also a significant increase in the receptor binding affinity was achieved by several compounds. Among those compounds, 2-[3-[3- [N-cyclohexylmethyl-N-[2-(N-methyl- N-phenylcarbamoylmethoxy)phenyl]carbamoylmethyl]ureido]pheny l]acetic acid (22c) and (+/-)-2-[3-[3-[N-[2-(N-methyl-N- phenylcarbamoylmethoxy)phenyl]-N-(3-methylpentyl)carbamoy lmethyl]ureido] phenyl]acetic acid (22h) exhibited high affinity for human gastrin receptors and were also more potent inhibitors in a pentagastrin-induced gastric acid secretion model than the parent compound, 5. The ED50 values of these compounds when administered intraduodenally to rats were 0.12 and 0.63 mg/kg, respectively.     

Novel des-fatty acyl-polymyxin B derivatives with Pseudomonas aeruginosa-specific antimicrobial activity

Polymyxin B (PMB) is a cationic cyclic decapeptide antibiotic with a fatty acyl (FA) modification at the α-amino group of Dab1 (Dab: L-α,γ-diaminobutyric acid). In this study, which is part of a series of PMB structure-activity relationship investigations focused on identifying clinically useful peptide antibiotics, we synthesized ten des-FA PMB derivatives whose N-terminal moieties were changed to basic or hydrophilic amino acids. The antimicrobial and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) binding activities of these synthetic analogs were tested. The analogs showed more potent antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) compared with the PMB nonapeptide. In particular, [Ser2-Dap3]-PMB(2-10), Guanyl-[Thr2-Dab3]-PMB(2-10), Guanyl-[Dab1-Thr2-Dab3]-PMB(1-10), and N(α,γ)-diguanyl-[Dap3]-PMB(3-10) had antimicrobial activity equivalent to PMB. In LPS binding assays, the displacement curves shifted in a manner proportional to the number of positive charges available to bind to Escherichia coli (E. coli) and P. aeruginosa. Furthermore, peptides with basic side chains were comparable to PMB in binding activity assays against E. coli and P. aeruginosa. The acute toxicities of the peptides were evaluated by intravenously administering the peptides to mice through the tail vein. The toxicities of [Ser2-Dap3]-PMB(2-10), [Dap3]-PMB(3-10), and [Ser3]-PMB(3-10) were lower that of PMB (LD??, 4.8 μmol/kg).     

Synthesis and characterization of orally active nonpeptide vasopressin V2 receptor antagonists.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate whether a novel series of 2,6-diaza-5-oxobicyclo[5.4.0]undeca-1(7),8,10-triene derivatives exhibited antagonistic activity for vasopressin V1 and V2 receptors. Most of these compounds were synthesized and showed a high affinity potential for V2 receptor and low to moderate affinity potential for V1 receptor. The most potent and V2-selective compound, N-[4-[2,6-diaza-6-[2-(4-methylpiperazinyl)-2-oxoethyl] -5- oxobicyclo[5.4.0]undeca-1(7),8,10-trien-2-yl]-carbonyl]pheny l][2-(4- methylphenyl)phenyl]-formamide (11b), exhibited IC50's of 2.9 nM for the V2 receptor and 200 nM for the V1 receptor, respectively. When administered orally to rat, 11b showed an approximately 18-fold increased urine volume in comparison with control rat.     

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of [MeTyr1, MeArg7]-dynorphin A(1-8)-OH analogues with substitution at position 8

A series of [MeTyr1, MeArg7]-Dynorphin A (Dyn)(1-8)-OH analogues, modified at position 8 with various amino acids, is described. Their biological activities were determined in the three bioassays [guinea pig ileum (GPI), mouse vas deferens (MVD), and rabbit vas deferens (RVD)] and in the mouse tail-pinch test after subcutaneous administration. None of the analogues tested displayed more potent kappa-opioid activity in the RVD than [MeTyr1, MeArg7, D-Leu8]-Dyn(1-8)-NHEt (1), which is a potent analgesic peptide with similar opioid receptor selectivity to that of Dyn. However, [MeTyr1, MeArg7, Melle8]-Dyn(1-8)-OH (11) showed about a twofold more potent analgesic effect than 1. Based on the obtained results it is conceivable that in the case of Dyn(1-8)-OH analogues both a lipophilic L-amino acid in position 8 and an unchanged 7-8 amide bond are essential to maintain potent kappa-opioid activity.     

Synthesis of an artificial cell surface receptor that enables oligohistidine affinity tags to function as metal-dependent cell-penetrating peptides

Cell-penetrating peptides and proteins (CPPs) are important tools for the delivery of impermeable molecules into living mammalian cells. To enable these cells to internalize proteins fused to common oligohistidine affinity tags, we synthesized an artificial cell surface receptor comprising an N-alkyl derivative of 3beta-cholesterylamine linked to the metal chelator nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA). This synthetic receptor inserts into cellular plasma membranes, projects NTA headgroups from the cell surface, and rapidly cycles between the plasma membrane and intracellular endosomes. Jurkat lymphocytes treated with the synthetic receptor (10 microM) for 1 h displayed approximately 8,400,000 [corrected]NTA groups on the cell surface. Subsequent addition of the green fluorescent protein AcGFP fused to hexahistidine or decahistidine peptides (3 microM) and Ni(OAc)(2) (100 microM) enhanced the endocytosis of AcGFP by 150-fold (hexahistidine fusion protein) or 600-fold (decahistidine fusion protein) within 4 h at 37 degrees C. No adverse effects on cellular proliferation or morphology were observed under these conditions. By enabling common oligohistidine affinity tags to function as cell-penetrating peptides, this metal-chelating cell surface receptor provides a useful tool for studies of cellular biology [corrected]     

From phage display to dendrimer display: insights into multivalent binding

Phage display is widely used for the selection of target-specific peptide sequences. Presentation of phage peptides on a multivalent platform can be used to (partially) restore the binding affinity. Here, we present a detailed analysis of the effects of valency, linker choice, and receptor density on binding affinity of a multivalent architecture, using streptavidin (SA) as model multivalent receptor. For surfaces with low receptor densities, the SA binding affinity of multivalent dendritic phage peptide constructs increases over 2 orders of magnitude over the monovalent species (e.g., K(d,mono) = 120 μM vs K(d,tetra) = 1 μM), consistent with previous work. However, the affinity of the SA-binding phage presenting the exact same peptides was 16 pM when dense receptor surfaces used for initial phage display were used in assays. The phage affinity for SA-coated surfaces weakens severely toward the nanomolar regime when surface density of SA is decreased. A similarly strong dependence in this respect was observed for dendritic phage analogues. When presented with a dense SA-coated surface, dendrimer display affords up to a 10(4)-fold gain in affinity over the monovalent peptide. The interplay between ligand valency and receptor density is a fundamental aspect of multivalent targeting strategies in biological systems. The perspective offered here suggests that in vivo targeting schemes might best be served to conduct ligand selection under physiologically relevant receptor density surfaces, either by controlling the receptor density placed at the selection surface or by using more biologically relevant intact cells and tissues.     

An alpha-helical peptidomimetic inhibitor of the HIV-1 Rev-RRE interaction

The interaction between the HIV-1 Rev protein and the Rev-Responsive Element (RRE) RNA is an attractive target for anti-viral therapy. We have designed alpha-helical peptidomimetics of Rev-like peptides using side chain-side chain macrolactam formation between positions i and i+4. One peptidomimetic having an appropriate location, orientation, and length of the macrolactam exhibited both significant helical character and specific RRE binding. This molecule displays 2-fold greater RNA specificity than the wild-type Rev peptide and more than 20-fold greater specificity than an uncyclized control peptide. Thus, specific, high affinity recognition of the RRE is feasible utilizing a small, relatively rigid peptidomimetic scaffold.     

Fluoromethylated and hydroxymethylated derivatives of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist 1-[1-(2-thienyl)cyclohexyl]piperidine.

Derivatives with fluoromethyl and hydroxymethyl groups on the cyclohexyl ring of 1-[1-(2-thienyl)cyclohexyl]piperidine (TCP), a noncompetitive antagonist of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, were tested in a radioligand binding assay to evaluate their ability to inhibit [3H]TCP binding by rat brain homogenates. The potencies of these compounds as antagonists of NMDA and L-glutamate responses were also compared using a rat cortical slice preparation. One of the analogs, cis-2-hydroxymethyl-r-1-(N-piperidyl)-1-(2-thienyl) cyclohexane (5) was found to show a high affinity (IC50 = 16 nM) for the phencyclidine (PCP) binding sites, very close to that of TCP, and to be 38-fold more potent in binding than its trans isomer. Fluoromethyl and hydroxymethyl substitutions at C4 position of the cyclohexyl ring of TCP clearly reduced the affinity by at least one order of magnitude relative to TCP.     

Synthesis, photochromic properties, and light-controlled metal complexation of a naphthopyran derivative

A light-controlled reversible binding switch based on photochromic 3H-naphtho[2,1-b]pyran is under development for studying cellular oscillatory calcium signals. The binding affinities of the closed and open forms of substituted naphthopyran 1 for Ca(2+), Mg(2+), and Sr(2+) in buffer were determined. The photochemically ring-opened form of the receptor exhibited increased affinity compared to the thermally stable closed form of the receptor. The binding affinity difference for Ca(2+) was approximately 77-fold at pH 7.6.     

Targeting specific PDZ domains of PSD-95; structural basis for enhanced affinity and enzymatic stability of a cyclic peptide

A cyclic peptide, Tyr-Lys-c[-Lys-Thr-Glu(betaAla)-]-Val, incorporating a beta-Ala lactam side chain linker and designed to target the PDZ domains of the postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95), has been synthesized and structurally characterized by NMR while free and bound to the PDZ1 domain of PSD-95. While bound, the lactam linker of the peptide makes a number of unique contacts outside the canonical PDZ binding motif, providing a novel target for PDZ-domain specificity as well as producing a 10-fold enhancement in binding affinity. Additionally, the cyclization greatly enhances the enzymatic stability, increasing the duration that the peptide inhibits the association between PSD-95 and glutamate receptors, effectively inhibiting the clustering of kainate receptors for over 14 hr after application. Highly specific regulation of kainate receptor action may provide a novel route for treatment of drug addiction and epilepsy.