Synthesis,Characterization, and Biological Properties of Five Enkephalin-like Pentapeptides Containing p-Nitrophenylalanine

Five pentapeptides with the amino acid sequence L -tyrosyl-D -alanyl-glycyl-L -p-nitrophenylalanyl-X, wherein X = L -leucine, L -leucine amide, L -methionine amide, L -1-adamantylalanine amide, and L -neopentylglycine amide were prepared by chemical synthesis in solution and characterized chemically and physically. The effect of the incorporation of the unnatural amino acids adamantylalanine and neopentylglycine, ‘fat’-analogues of leucine and methionine, on the inhibition of electrically evoked contractions of the myenteric plexus-longitudinal muscle preparation from guinea pig ileum was studied. Their activities relative to the peptides with X = Leu · OH, Leu-NH₂, and Met-NH₂ (X = Neo-NH₂ is particularly potent) are discussed in terms of hydrophobic and steric factors, and resistance towards enzymic degradation.