Increased affinity and selectivity of enkephalin tripeptide (Tyr-D-Ala-Gly) dimers

Enkephalin-cell interactions

Enkephalin analogs for multivalent ligand systems, bivalent enkephalins, multivalent enkephalins on polymers, multivalent ligands on vesicles, simultaneous activation of two different receptor systems, and cell interactions of enkephalin/polypeptide conjugates are described. Multivalent ligand systems can trigger receptor-receptor interactions and are considered to possess interesting possibilities in terms of enhanced potency, reduction of side effects, and a new biological activity.

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of dimer derivatives of the bradykinin receptor antagonist HOE-140

The synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of dimer derivatives of the C-terminal fragments of the potent bradykinin antagonist HOE-140, linked through their N-termini, were performed. The influence of peptide moiety length was studied using the succinyl moiety as a linker. Our attention focused on the dimer of the C-terminal tetrapeptide of HOE-140 (compound JMV 980), which displayed some inhibiting activity (IC50 = 247 nM) for bradykinin B2 receptors. Unexpectedly, it was orally active in inhibiting bradykinin-induced hypotension in the rat. Based on this tetrapeptide dimer model, we synthesized pseudotetrapeptide dimer bradykinin antagonists 29 and 33, which exhibited high affinity (Ki = 76 and 61 nM, respectively) for the human cloned B2 receptor. In addition, compound 29 inhibited bradykinin-induced contraction of the human umbilical vein giving a pKB value of 6.45. Compounds 29 and 33 were selective toward B2 receptors because they did not bind to the cloned human B1 receptor up to 10 microM.

Receptor affinity of neurotensin message segment immobilized on liposome

Neurotensin derivatives having a dioctadecyl group were synthesized and immobilized on DMPC liposome to construct a multivalent-ligand system. The derivatives are Ac-Glu[N(C18H37)2]-(Sar-Sar-Pro)n-Arg-Arg-Pro-Tyr-Ile-Leu-OH (D3nNT, n = 0,1,2,3), where a dioctadecyl group was connected to the N-terminal side of neurotensin 8-13 fragment directly or through a hydrophilic and flexible spacer chain of different lengths. The derivatives were spontaneously immobilized on DMPC liposome upon incubation overnight. The receptor affinity of the derivatives increased significantly upon immobilization on liposome. The maximum affinity was obtained by D9NT immobilized on DMPC liposome at the molar ratio of DMPC and D9NT of 200. This affinity is slightly better than the neurotensin 8-13 fragment, the message segment of the derivatives. The fluorescent microscopy using rhodamine-labelled liposome revealed that the multivalent-ligand system binds to specific receptors without dissociation of the derivative from DMPC liposome.

Comparative conformational analyses of mu-selective dermorphin and delta-selective deltorphin-II in aqueous solution by 1H-NMR spectroscopy

Two-dimensional 1H-NMR methods have been used to obtain complete proton resonance assignments and possible solution conformations of dermorphin (H-Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-Gly-Tyr-Pro-Ser-NH2) and deltorphin-II (H-Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-Glu-Val-Val-Gly-NH2), naturally occurring mu- and delta-selective opioids, respectively, in order to examine the conformational characteristics that are closely related to the selectivities towards mu/delta-opioid receptors. With the use of the proton-proton distances derived from ROESY measurements in aqueous solution, 50 possible 3D structures are generated by means of distance geometry calculations. The conformers which satisfy the distance constraints and the torsion angles estimated from JNHC alpha H vicinal coupling constants within the allowable range are then subjected to molecular dynamics simulations for 10 ps after equilibration. Although dermorphin and deltorphin-II are both in equilibrium among many flexible conformers, some conformational differences are observed between these peptides: many conformers of dermorphin show a structure rounded at the N-terminal Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-Gly-Tyr and C-terminal Gly-Tyr-Pro-Ser-NH2 moieties, which are almost at right angles to each other, while those of deltorphin-II are characterized by a 'hook'-shaped backbone structure in which the nearly extended conformation of the Val-Val-Gly-NH2 sequence is located under the folded conformation of the N-terminal Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-Glu sequence. The possible relationship between these conformational characteristics and the mu/delta-opioid receptor selectivities is discussed.

Opioid receptors and their pharmacological profiles

Opioid receptors can be divided into three major classes, which are called mu, delta and kappa-receptors. The molecular basis of the receptors is discussed and a hypothesis of the binding of bivalent ligands to the receptor is presented. Furthermore the mechanism of action, the distribution and the probable function of these classes is overviewed. Increasing evidence is accumulating that the classical binding model cannot explain completely the interaction of opioids with their receptors. In addition to the mu-receptors, high affinity mu 1 binding sites have been demonstrated. Similarly, the delta receptors may be divided in delta 1 and delta 2. The significance of these subclasses is not yet fully understood. The high affinity mu 1-binding sites, however, represent probably an activated receptor complex, e.g. the complex between the receptor and the guanine-nucleotide-binding protein.

Binding to opioid receptors of enkephalin derivatives taking alpha-helical conformation and its dimer

The opioid receptor binding of [Leu]enkephalin derivatives with extended address segment to the C-terminal was studied. The extension peptide is designed to take an amphiphilic helical structure in order to evaluate effects of helical conformation and membrane affinity of enkephalin moiety of the derivatives on receptor binding. In the delta-receptor-selective binding assay, Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Leu-Lys-Aib-Leu-Aib-OH (1) showed the same affinity as enkephalinamide, whereas in the mu-receptor-selective binding assay, a 7-fold reduction in affinity was observed. On the other hand, Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Leu-(Lys-Aib-Leu-Aib)2-OH (2) showed 51- and 96-fold decreases in affinities for delta- and mu-receptors, respectively, compared with enkephalinamide. The low receptor affinity of derivative 2 is considered due to alpha-helical conformation, which might not be compatible with topological requirements of delta- and mu-receptors. A dimer, Tyr-Gly-Gly-Leu-Phe-(Lys-Aib-Leu-Aib)2-Lys(X)-Aib-OCH3 (X = Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Leu-, (4], showed 2.5- and 3.0-fold increases in affinities respectively for delta- and mu-receptors compared with the monovalent derivative 2, possibly due to cross-linking of neighboring receptors. The Hill plot of the binding of the dimer to bovine brain membranes was composed of two phases, although such a heterogeneity of receptors was not observed in the presence of naloxone or in the binding to NG108-15 cell membranes. These findings indicate the presence of the bivalent-ligand-induced interactions between delta- and mu-receptors in bovine brain membranes.

Binding characteristics of a series of dimeric tripeptide enkephalins for delta opiate receptors in rat brain and NG108-15 cells

The N-terminal tripeptide enkephalin analogue, Tyr-D-Ala-Gly, was dimerized at the C-terminus systematically with a series of alpha,omega-diaminoalkanes, NH2-(CH2)n-NH2 (n = 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22). The binding affinities of dimers for delta opiate receptors in rat brain were evaluated and compared with those for delta receptors in NG108-15 cells. Although the monomeric tripeptide amide was almost inactive, dimers showed a dramatic increase in binding affinity (8-900 times). The enhancement of affinity was apparently related to the number of methylene chains in the crosslinking spacer moiety, and it was maximal at n = 14-18 in the rat brain. In NG cells the activity increased progressively from n = 2 to n = 22 without reaching any apparent peak. These results suggest that delta receptors in rat brain and NG cells may have slight structural differences.

Differential contribution of C-terminal regions of dermorphin and dermenkephalin to opioid-sites selection and binding potency

Dermorphin and dermenkephalin are D-aminoacid containing peptides generated from processing of the plurifonctional biosynthetic precursor pro-dermorphin. Dermorphin, Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-Gly-Tyr-Pro-Ser-NH2 (DRM) and dermenkephalin, Tyr-D-Met-Phe-His-Leu-Met-Asp-NH2 (DREK), are among the most selective and potent agonists described respectively for the mu- and delta-opioid receptors. In order to identify determinants of selectivity and high-affinity receptor binding of dermorphin and dermenkephalin, a series of analogs was investigated for their affinity at the mu- and delta-receptors in the brain. The tetrapeptide amino end of both DRM and DREK were found to display high affinity and selectivity towards mu-receptors. Substitution of the C-terminal tripeptide of DREK with that of DRM reversed the receptor selectivity of DREK from delta to mu. Replacement of the C-terminal tripeptide of DRM with the C-terminal counterpart of DREK shifted the selectivity of DRM from mu to delta. These data emphasize the critical contribution of the carboxy end of DREK to delta-selectivity. They further suggest that the potent mu-address lying in the N terminus of DREK is overwhelmed by the powerful delta-directing ability of the carboxy end. Unlike DREK, the C-terminus of DRM is not involved in opioid receptor sites selection but is important insofar as it serves to stabilize interactions of DRM with the mu-receptor binding site.

Interaction of dimers of inactive enkephalin fragments with mu opiate receptors

Dimeric analogues of the inactive enkephalin fragment Tyr-D-Ala-Gly were synthesized by cross-linking with alkanediamine at the C-terminus. Biological evaluation of these dimers (H-Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-NH)2.(-CH2-)n (DTREn), where n = 0-6, revealed that the fragment inactive for mu receptors was activated by its dimerization, with the maximum activation found with DTRE2, and that the dimer was highly mu-selective. So-called "handicapped" dimers, which lack one of the essential groupings required for enkephalin activity, were found to be far less active, indicating that the dimer interacts bivalently with mu receptors. It seems, therefore, that mu opiate receptors contain at least two equivalent binding sites which are extremely close to each other.

Bivalent opioid peptide analogues with reduced distances between pharmacophores

To investigate the role of distance between two opioid peptide pharmacophores on in vitro and in vivo activities, three new bivalent opioid analogues have been synthesized in which the dipeptide Tyr-D-Phe was connected with diamine moieties ("bridges"). The analogue with a hydrazine bridge has high receptor affinity to mu, kappa, and delta receptor types, as well as potent and long acting antinociceptive activity after intraperitoneal administration.