A molecular mechanics study of the effect of substitution in position 1 on the conformational space of the oxytocin/vasopressin ring

Conformations of a model cyclic hexapeptide, CYIQNC: (1)H-NMR and molecular dynamics studies

Solution conformation of the cyclic hexapeptide sequence, [cyclo-S-Cys-Tyr-Ile-Gln-Asn-Cys-S] (CYIQNC) - a disulfide-linked fragment of a neurohypophyseal peptide hormone oxytocin (OT) - has been investigated by high-field one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) NMR spectroscopic methods and compared with the results obtained from computer simulation studies. (1)H-NMR results based on temperature dependence of amide proton chemical shifts and nuclear Overhauser effect indicate that peptide in solution populates different conformations, characterized by two fused β-turns. The segment Ile(3)-Gln(4)-Asn(5)-Cys(6) yields a preferred type-III β-turn at residues 4, 5 (HB, 3HN → 6CO), while the segment Cys(6), Cys(1)-Tyr(2)-Ile(3) exhibits inherently weaker, flexible β-turn either of type I/II'/III/half-turn at residues 1, 2 (HB, 6HN → 3CO). The computer simulation studies using a mixed protocol of distance geometry-simulated annealing followed by constrained minimization, restrained molecular dynamics, and energy minimization showed the possibility of existence of additional conformations with the hydrogen bonds, (a) 5HN → 3CO and (b) 2HN → 6CO. These results, therefore, indicate that the additional conformations obtained from both NMR and simulation studies can also be possible to the peptide. These additional conformations might have very small population in the solution and did not show their signatures in these conditions. These findings will be helpful in designing more analogs with modifications in the cyclic moiety of OT.

Examination of structural characteristics of the potent oxytocin antagonists [dPen1,Pen6]-OT and [dPen1,Pen6, 5-tBuPro7]-OT by NMR, Raman, CD spectroscopy and molecular modeling

The synthesis and biological evaluation of penicillamine(6)-5-tert-butylproline(7)-oxytocin analogs and comparison with their proline(7)-oxytocin counterparts has led to the discovery of two potent oxytocin (OT) antagonists: [dPen(1),Pen(6)]-oxytocin (1, pA(2) = 8.22, EC(50) = 6.0 nM) and [dPen(1),Pen(6),5-tBuPro(7)]-oxytocin (2, pA(2) = 8.19, EC(50) = 6.5 nM). In an attempt to understand the conformational requirements for their biological activity, spectroscopic analyses of 1 and 2 were performed using (1)H NMR, laser Raman and CD techniques. In H(2)O, oxytocin analogs 1 and 2 exhibited cis-isomer populations of 7% and 35%, respectively. Measurement of the amide proton temperature coefficients revealed solvent shielded hydrogens for Gln(4) and Pen(6) in the major trans-conformer of 1 as well as for Gln(4) in the minor cis-conformer of 2. Few long-distance NOEs were observed, suggesting conformational averaging for analogs 1 and 2 in water; moreover, a lower barrier (16.6 +/- 0.2 kcal/mol) for isomerization of the amide N-terminal to 5-tBuPro(7) relative to OT was calculated from measuring the coalescence temperature of the Gly(9) backbone NH signals in the NMR spectra of 2. Observed bands in the Raman spectra of 1 and 2 correspond to C(beta)-S-S-C(beta) dihedral angles of +110-115 degrees and +/-90 degrees , respectively. In water, acetonitrile and methanol, the CD spectra for 1 exhibited a positive maximum around 236-239 nm; in trifluoroethanol, the spectra shifted and a negative maximum was observed at 240 nm. The CD spectra of 2 were unaffected by solvent changes and exhibited a negative maximum at 236-239 nm. The CD and Raman data both suggested that a conformation having a right-handed screw sense about the disulfide and a chi(CS-SC) dihedral angle value close to 115 degrees was favored for analog 1 in water, methanol and acetonitrile, but not trifluoroethanol, where a +/-90 degrees angle was favored. Analog 2 was more resilient to conformational change about the disulfide, and adopted a preferred disulfide geometry corresponding to a +/-90 degrees chi(CS-SC) dihedral angle. Monte Carlo conformational analysis of analogs 1 and 2 using distance restraints derived from NMR spectroscopy revealed two prominent conformational minima for analog 1 with disulfide geometries around +114 degrees and +116 degrees . Similar analysis of analog 2 revealed one conformational minimum with a disulfide geometry around +104 degrees . In sum, the conformation about the disulfide in [dPen(1),Pen(6)]-OT (1) was shown to be contingent on environment and in TFE, adopted a geometry similar to that of [dPen(1),Pen(6),5-tBuPro(7)]-OT (2) which appeared to be stabilized by hydrophobic interactions between the 5-tBuPro(7) (5R)-tert-butyl group, the Leu(8) isopropyl sidechain and the Pen(6)beta-methyl substituents. In light of the conformational rigidity of 2 about the disulfide bond, and the similar geometry adopted by 1 in TFE, a S-S dihedral angle close to +110 degrees may be a prerequisite for their binding at the receptor.

Theoretical conformational analysis of six arginine vasopressin analogs with the L-naphthylalanine in position 3

Introduction of the naphthylalanine residue into either position 3 of arginine vasopressin (AVP), or its analogs results in peptides with interesting pharmacological properties. The single substituted analog of AVP with L-2-Nal in position 3 causes moderate antiduretic activity, whereas [Mpa1, (L-1-Nal)3, (D-Arg)8] VP and [Mpa1, (L-2-Nal)3, (D-Arg)8] VP are potent and selective V2 agonists. Moreover [(L-2-Nal)3, (D-Arg)8] VP is among the most potent and selective antagonists of V1a receptors. In this study we carried out conformational calculations on [(L-1-Nal)3] AVP, [(L-2-Nal)3] AVP, [(L-1-Nal)3, (D-Arg)8] VP, [(L-2-Nal)3, (D-Arg)8] VP, [Mpa1, (L-1-Nal)3, (D-Arg)8] VP, [Mpa1, (L-2-Nal)3, (D-Arg)8] VP, using the ECEPP/3 force field with and without including hydration to simulate aqueous and nonpolar environments. It was found that in all six compound studied, the low-energy conformations have common geometry and relative energies. Therefore, the modifications of the Phe in position 3 influence the binding to the receptor by changing the size of the third residue, rather than by changing the conformational space. The lowest-energy conformations in the presence and absence of water had beta-turns at residues Phe3-Gln4 and Gln4-Asn5 and Gln4-Asn5, respectively. The conformation at the Gln4-Asn5 turn was most similar to the crystal structure of the pressinoic acid (the cyclic moiety of vasopressin).

Exploration of the conformational space of oxytocin and arginine-vasopressin using the electrostatically driven Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics methods

Conformational analysis of the neurohypophyseal hormones oxytocin (OT) and arginine-vasopressin (AVP) has been carried out using two different computational approaches and three force fields, namely by the Electrostatically Driven Monte Carlo (EDMC) method, with the Empirical Conformational Energy Program for Peptides (ECEPP/3) force field or with the ECEPP/3 force field plus a hydration-shell model, and by simulated-annealing molecular dynamics with the Consistent Valence Force Field (CVFF). The low-energy conformations obtained for both hormones were classified using the minimal-tree clustering algorithm and characterized according to the locations of beta-turns in the cyclic moieties. Calculations with the CVFF force field located conformations with a beta-turn at residues 3 and 4 as the lowest energy ones both for OT and for AVP. In the ECEPP/3 force field the lowest energy conformation of OT contained a beta-turn at residues 2 and 3, conformations with this location of the turn being higher in energy for AVP. The latter difference can be attributed to the difference in the size of the side chain in position 3 of the sequences: the bulkier phenylalanine residue of AVP in combination with the bulky Tyr2 residue hinders the formation of a turn at residues 2 and 3. Conformations of OT and AVP with a turn at residues 3,4 were in the best agreement with the x-ray structures of deaminooxytocin and pressinoic acid (the cyclic moiety of vasopressin), respectively, and with the nmr-derived distance constraints. Generally, the low-energy conformations obtained with the hydration-shell model were in a better agreement with the experimental data than the conformations calculated in vacuo. It was found, however, that the obtained low-energy conformations do not satisfy all of the nmr-derived distance constraints and the nuclear Overhauser effect pattern observed in nmr studies can be fully explained only by assuming a dynamic equilibrium between conformations with beta-turns at residues 2,3, 3,4, and 4,5. The low-energy structures of OT with a beta-turn at residues 2,3 have the disulfide ring conformations close to the model proposed recently for a potent bicyclic antagonist of OT [M. D. Shenderovich et al. (1994) Polish Journal of Chemistry, Vol. 25, pp. 921-927], although the native hormone differs from the bicyclic analogue by the conformation of the C-terminal tripeptide. This finding confirms the hypothesis of different receptor-bound conformations of agonists and antagonists of OT.

Theoretical conformational analysis of three vasopressin antagonists with a modified cyclohexyl ring in the first thioacid residue

Analogues of arginine vasopressin (AVP) with bulky thioacid residues in position 1 of the amino acid sequence are known to be effective antagonists of the pressor response. Some of the most effective ones are those that have the first cysteine residue replaced with beta,beta-cyclopentamethylene-beta'-mercaptopropionic acid (Cpp) and its derivatives, such as 4-mercapto-4-tetrahydropyraneacetic acid (OCA) and 4-mercapto-4-tetrahydrothiopyraneacetic acid (SCA). The SCA analogues are more potent and the OCA ones slightly less potent antagonists than the Cpp ones. In this study we carried out conformational calculations on [Cpp1]AVP, [OCA1]AVP and [SCA1]AVP, using the ECEPP/3 force field both with and without hydration (to simulate an aqueous and non-polar receptor environment, respectively). It was found that most of the low-energy conformations are common in geometry and relative energy for all three compounds studied. It can therefore be concluded that the modifications of the cyclohexyl ring in position 1 influence the binding to the receptor because of changing the lipophilicity of the first residue, rather than by changing the conformational space. This is further supported by the fact that the lowest-energy conformations in the absence of water have closely located the Phe3 side chain (which is critical for the interaction with vasopressin receptors) and the (modified) cyclohexyl ring. The lowest-energy conformations in the presence and absence of water had beta-turns at residues Phe3-Gln4 and Gln4-Asn5, and Gln4-Asn5, respectively. The conformation with the turn at Gln4-Asn5 was most similar to the crystal structure of the pressinoic acid (the cyclic moiety of vasopressin).

Conformational aspects of differences in requirements for oxytocin and vasopressin receptors

Conformational energy calculations were carried out on three non-peptide antagonists of oxytocin and vasopressin: penicilide (compound 1; selective for oxytocin receptors), 1-¿1-[4-(3-acetylaminopropoxy(benzoyl]-4-piperidyl¿-3,4-dihydro-2( 1H)-quinoline (compound 2; selective for vasopressin V1 receptors) and 5-dimethylamino-1-¿(2-methylbenzylamino)-benzoyl¿-2,3,4,5-tetrahyd ro-1H-benzapine (compound 3; selective for vasopressin V2 receptors). The obtained low-energy conformations of compound 1 were compared with low-energy conformations of oxytocin (OT) and low-energy conformations of compounds 2 and 3 were compared with low-energy conformations of arginine vasopressin (AVP). It was found that the affinity of the non-peptide antagonists and their selectivity for vasopressin and oxytocin receptors is probably connected with mimicking the aromatic rings of the Tyr2 and the Phe3 residues of AVP in the case of compounds 2 and 3 and with mimicking the Tyr2 residue and the Ile3 or Leu8 residues of OT by the outer benzene ring and the isobutyl group of compound 1. Application of the results in the design of more potent non-peptide antagonists of OT and VP is also discussed.