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Zhou Y, Mowlazadeh Haghighi S, Sawyer JR, Hruby VJ, Cai M. Ψ and χ Angle Constrains at the C-Terminus Trp Position of the Melanotropin Tetrapeptide Ac-His-d-Phe-Arg-Trp-NH 2 Lead to Potent and Selective Agonists at hMC1R and hMC4R. J Med Chem 2023; 66:6715-6724. [PMID: 37133411 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Melanocortin receptors (MCRs) are a family of G protein-coupled receptors that regulate important physiological functions. Yet, drug development targeting MCRs is hindered by potential side effects due to a lack of receptor subtype-selective ligands with bioavailability. Here, we report novel synthetic pathways to introduce Ψ and χ angle constraints at the C-terminus Trp position of the nonselective prototype tetrapeptide agonist Ac-His-d-Phe-Arg-Trp-NH2. With these conformational constraints, peptide 1 (Ac-His-d-Phe-Arg-Aia) shows improved selectivity at hMC1R, with an EC50 of 11.2 nM for hMC1R and at least 15-fold selectivity compared to other MCR subtypes. Peptide 3 (Ac-His-pCF3-d-Phe-Arg-Aia) is a potent and selective hMC4R agonist with an EC50 of 4.1 nM at hMC4R and at least ninefold selectivity. Molecular docking studies reveal that the Ψ and χ angle constraints force the C-terminal Aia residue to flip and interact with TM6 and TM7, a feature that we hypothesize leads to the receptor subtype selectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhou
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Saghar Mowlazadeh Haghighi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Jonathon R Sawyer
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Victor J Hruby
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Minying Cai
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
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Gimenez LE, Noblin TA, Williams SY, Mullick Bagchi S, Ji RL, Tao YX, Jeppesen CB, Conde-Frieboes KW, Sawyer TK, Grieco P, Cone RD. Demonstration of a Common DPhe 7 to DNal(2') 7 Peptide Ligand Antagonist Switch for Melanocortin-3 and Melanocortin-4 Receptors Identifies the Systematic Mischaracterization of the Pharmacological Properties of Melanocortin Peptides. J Med Chem 2022; 65:5990-6000. [PMID: 35404053 PMCID: PMC9059122 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Melanocortin peptides containing a 3-(2-naphthyl)-d-alanine residue in position 7 (DNal(2')7), reported as melanocortin-3 receptor (MC3R) subtype-specific agonists in two separate publications, were found to lack significant MC3R agonist activity. The cell lines used at the University of Arizona for pharmacological characterization of these peptides, consisting of HEK293 cells stably transfected with human melanocortin receptor subtypes MC1R, MC3R, MC4R, or MC5R, were then obtained and characterized by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). While the MC1R cell line correctly expressed only hMCR1, the three other cell lines were mischaracterized with regard to receptor subtype expression. The demonstration that a 3-(2-naphthyl)-d-alanine residue in position 7, irrespective of the melanocortin peptide template, results primarily in the antagonism of MC3R and MC4R then allowed us to search the published literature for additional errors. The erroneously characterized DNal(2')7-containing peptides date back to 2003; thus, our analysis suggests that systematic mischaracterization of the pharmacological properties of melanocortin peptides occurred.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis E. Gimenez
- Life
Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States,
| | - Terry A. Noblin
- Life
Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Savannah Y. Williams
- Life
Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | | | - Ren-Lei Ji
- Department
of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849, United States
| | - Ya-Xiong Tao
- Department
of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849, United States
| | | | | | - Tomi K. Sawyer
- Courage
Therapeutics, 64 Homer
Street, Newton, Massachusetts 02459, United States
| | - Paolo Grieco
- #Department of Pharmacy and ∇CIRPEB, Centro Interuniversitario
di Ricerca sui
Peptidi Bioattivi, University of Naples,
Federico II, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Roger D. Cone
- Life
Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States,Department
of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States,
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Kriegelsteinová P, Lemrová B, Ručilová V, Soural M. Copper‐Free Solid‐Phase Synthesis of Triazolo[1,5‐
a
][1,4]diazepin‐6‐ones. Adv Synth Catal 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/adsc.202001403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Kriegelsteinová
- Department of Organic Chemistry Faculty of Science Palacký University 771 46 Olomouc Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Lemrová
- Department of Organic Chemistry Faculty of Science Palacký University 771 46 Olomouc Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Ručilová
- Department of Organic Chemistry Faculty of Science Palacký University 771 46 Olomouc Czech Republic
| | - Miroslav Soural
- Department of Organic Chemistry Faculty of Science Palacký University 771 46 Olomouc Czech Republic
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry Palacký University Hněvotínská 5 779 00 Olomouc Czech Republic
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION The melanocortin system is a primordial and critical system for survival, involved in a wide variety of physiological functions. It includes melanocortin receptors (MCRs) and melanotropin ligands (MCLs). MCRs are important drug targets that can regulate several key physiological processes. Extensive efforts have been made to develop peptide and peptidomimetics targeting melanocortin receptors including MC1R, MC3R, MC4R and MC5R. Most research is focused on developing potent and selective melanotropins. However, developing bioavailable melanotropins remains challenging. Areas covered: Herein, the authors summarize promising strategies for developing bioavailable MCLs by using cyclized N-methylated melanotropins, and using cyclotide and tetrapeptide as templates. They discuss their unique advantages in oral availability and targeting MCRs in the central nervous system or in peripheral tissues. Finally, they discuss the observed differences in thepharmacology of MCRs between in vitro and in vivo tests. Expert opinion: N-methylated cyclized melanotropins have great potential to become bio- available drugs targeting MCRs in the brain, while MCR-grafted cyclotides tend to target MCRs in peripheral tissue. A better understanding of the biased signaling process is a new challenge and opportunity for the future discovery of bioavailable MCLs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhou
- a Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry , University of Arizona , Tucson , AZ USA
| | - Minying Cai
- a Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry , University of Arizona , Tucson , AZ USA
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Van der Poorten O, Knuhtsen A, Sejer Pedersen D, Ballet S, Tourwé D. Side Chain Cyclized Aromatic Amino Acids: Great Tools as Local Constraints in Peptide and Peptidomimetic Design. J Med Chem 2016; 59:10865-10890. [PMID: 27690430 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b01029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Constraining the conformation of flexible peptides is a proven strategy to increase potency, selectivity, and metabolic stability. The focus has mostly been on constraining the backbone dihedral angles; however, the correct orientation of the amino acid side chains (χ-space) that constitute the peptide pharmacophore is equally important. Control of χ-space utilizes conformationally constrained amino acids that favor, disfavor, or exclude the gauche (-), the gauche (+), or the trans conformation. In this review we focus on cyclic aromatic amino acids in which the side chain is connected to the peptide backbone to provide control of χ1- and χ2-space. The manifold applications for cyclized analogues of the aromatic amino acids Phe, Tyr, Trp, and His within peptide medicinal chemistry are showcased herein with examples of enzyme inhibitors and ligands for G protein-coupled receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Van der Poorten
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Departments of Chemistry and Bio-Engineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel , Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Astrid Knuhtsen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen , Jagtvej 162, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Daniel Sejer Pedersen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen , Jagtvej 162, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Steven Ballet
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Departments of Chemistry and Bio-Engineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel , Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Dirk Tourwé
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Departments of Chemistry and Bio-Engineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel , Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
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Cai M, Hruby VJ. The Melanocortin Receptor System: A Target for Multiple Degenerative Diseases. Curr Protein Pept Sci 2016; 17:488-96. [PMID: 26916163 DOI: 10.2174/1389203717666160226145330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2015] [Revised: 01/28/2016] [Accepted: 01/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The melanocortin receptor system consists of five closely related G-protein coupled receptors (MC1R, MC2R, MC3R, MC4R and MC5R). These receptors are involved in many of the key biological functions for multicellular animals, including human beings. The natural agonist ligands for these receptors are derived by processing of a primordial animal gene product, proopiomelanocortin (POMC). The ligand for the MC2R is ACTH (Adrenal Corticotropic Hormone), a larger processed peptide from POMC. The natural ligands for the other 4 melanocortin receptors are smaller peptides including α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and related peptides from POMC (β-MSH and γ-MSH). They all contain the sequence His-Phe-Arg-Trp that is conserved throughout evolution. Thus, there has been considerable difficulty in developing highly selective ligands for the MC1R, MC3R, MC4R and MC5R. In this brief review, we discuss the various approaches that have been taken to design agonist and antagonist analogues and derivatives of the POMC peptides that are selective for the MC1R, MC3R, MC4R and MC5R receptors, via peptide, nonpeptide and peptidomimetic derivatives and analogues and their differential interactions with receptors that may help account for these selectivities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Victor J Hruby
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Arizona, 1306 E. University Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
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Jida M, Van der Poorten O, Guillemyn K, Urbanczyk-Lipkowska Z, Tourwé D, Ballet S. T3P-Promoted, Mild, One-Pot Syntheses of Constrained Polycyclic Lactam Dipeptide Analogues via Stereoselective Pictet–Spengler and Meyers Lactamization Reactions. Org Lett 2015; 17:4482-5. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.5b02145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mouhamad Jida
- Research
Group of Organic Chemistry, Departments of Chemistry and Bio-Engineering
Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Olivier Van der Poorten
- Research
Group of Organic Chemistry, Departments of Chemistry and Bio-Engineering
Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Karel Guillemyn
- Research
Group of Organic Chemistry, Departments of Chemistry and Bio-Engineering
Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Zofia Urbanczyk-Lipkowska
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kasprzaka Strasse
44/52, 01-224 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Dirk Tourwé
- Research
Group of Organic Chemistry, Departments of Chemistry and Bio-Engineering
Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Steven Ballet
- Research
Group of Organic Chemistry, Departments of Chemistry and Bio-Engineering
Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
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Hooyberghs G, Van Hove S, Jacobs J, Van Meervelt L, Van der Eycken EV. A One-Pot Synthesis of Triazolodiazepines. European J Org Chem 2015. [DOI: 10.1002/ejoc.201500402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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