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Gruber KA, Ji RL, Gallazzi F, Jiang S, Van Doren SR, Tao YX, Newton Northup J. Development of a Therapeutic Peptide for Cachexia Suggests a Platform Approach for Drug-like Peptides. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2022; 5:344-361. [PMID: 35592439 PMCID: PMC9112415 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.1c00270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
During the development of a melanocortin (MC) peptide drug to treat the condition of cachexia (a hypermetabolic state producing lean body mass wasting), we were confronted with the need for peptide transport across the blood-brain barrier (BBB): the MC-4 receptors (MC4Rs) for metabolic rate control are located in the hypothalamus, i.e., behind the BBB. Using the term "peptides with BBB transport", we screened the medical literature like a peptide library. This revealed numerous "hits"-peptides with BBB transport and/or oral activity. We noted several features common to most peptides in this class, including a dipeptide sequence of nonpolar residues, primary structure cyclization (whole or partial), and a Pro-aromatic motif usually within the cyclized region. Based on this, we designed an MC4R antagonist peptide, TCMCB07, that successfully treated many forms of cachexia. As part of our pharmacokinetic characterization of TCMCB07, we discovered that hepatobiliary extraction from blood accounted for a majority of the circulating peptide's excretion. Further screening of the literature revealed that TCMCB07 is a member of a long-forgotten peptide class, showing active transport by a multi-specific bile salt carrier. Bile salt transport peptides have predictable pharmacokinetics, including BBB transport, but rapid hepatic clearance inhibited their development as drugs. TCMCB07 shares the general characteristics of the bile salt peptide class but with a much longer half-life of hours, not minutes. A change in its C-terminal amino acid sequence slows hepatic clearance. This modification is transferable to other peptides in this class, suggesting a platform approach for producing drug-like peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth A Gruber
- John M. Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, and Department of Medical Pharmacology & Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, United States.,Tensive Controls, Inc., Columbia, Missouri 65211, United States
| | - Ren-Lai Ji
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, Auburn University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn, Alabama 36849, United States
| | - Fabio Gallazzi
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Interaction Core, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, United States
| | - Shaokai Jiang
- Department of Chemistry and NMR Core, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, United States
| | - Steven R Van Doren
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, United States`
| | - Ya-Xiong Tao
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, Auburn University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn, Alabama 36849, United States
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2
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A concise synthesis of 1,4-dihydro-[1,4]diazepine-5,7-dione, a novel 7-TM receptor ligand core structure with melanocortin receptor agonist activity. Bioorg Med Chem 2010; 18:1822-33. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2010.01.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2008] [Revised: 01/16/2010] [Accepted: 01/20/2010] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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3
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Nozawa D, Chaki S, Nakazato A. Recent advances in the development of melanocortin-4 receptor ligands. Expert Opin Ther Pat 2008. [DOI: 10.1517/13543776.18.4.403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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4
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Webb TR, Jiang L, Sviridov S, Venegas RE, Vlaskina AV, McGrath D, Tucker J, Wang J, Deschenes A, Li R. Application of a novel design paradigm to generate general nonpeptide combinatorial templates mimicking beta-turns: synthesis of ligands for melanocortin receptors. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007; 9:704-10. [PMID: 17429950 DOI: 10.1021/cc0601581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We report the further application of a novel approach to template and ligand design by the synthesis of agonists of the melanocortin receptor. This design method uses the conserved structural data from the three-dimensional conformations of beta-turn peptides to design rigid nonpeptide templates that mimic the orientation of the main chain C-alpha atoms in a peptide beta-turn. We report details on a new synthesis of derivatives of template 1 that are useful for the synthesis of exploratory libraries. The utility of this technique is further exemplified by several iterative rounds of high-throughput synthesis and screening, which result in new partially optimized nonpeptide agonists for several melanocortin receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas R Webb
- ChemBridge Research Labs, Inc., ChemBridge Corporation, 16981 Via Tazon, San Diego, California 92127, USA.
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5
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Cain JP, Mayorov AV, Cai M, Wang H, Tan B, Chandler K, Lee Y, Petrov RR, Trivedi D, Hruby VJ. Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a new class of small molecule peptide mimetics targeting the melanocortin receptors. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2006; 16:5462-7. [PMID: 16931008 PMCID: PMC1810397 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2006.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2006] [Revised: 06/23/2006] [Accepted: 07/05/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
A new bicyclic template has been developed for the synthesis of peptide mimetics. Straightforward synthetic steps, starting from amino acids, allow the facile construction of a wide range of analogs. This system was designed to target the melanocortin receptors (MCRs), with functional group selection based on a known pharmacophore and guidance from molecular modeling to rationally identify positional and stereochemical isomers likely to be active. The functions of hMCRs are critical to myriad biological activities, including pigmentation, steroidogenesis, energy homeostasis, erectile activity, and inflammation. These G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are targets for drug discovery in a number of areas, including cancer, pain, and obesity therapeutics. All compounds from this series tested to date are antagonists which bind with high affinity. Importantly, many are highly selective for a particular MCR subtype, including some of the first completely hMC5R-selective antagonists reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P Cain
- Department of Chemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
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6
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Kopanchuk S, Veiksina S, Mutulis F, Mutule I, Yahorava S, Mandrika I, Petrovska R, Rinken A, Wikberg JES. Kinetic evidence for tandemly arranged ligand binding sites in melanocortin 4 receptor complexes. Neurochem Int 2006; 49:533-42. [PMID: 16764968 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2006.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2006] [Revised: 04/10/2006] [Accepted: 04/18/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The melanocortin 4 receptor (MC(4)R) binding of the peptide analogue of melanocyte stimulating hormone, [(125)I]NDP-MSH, and the low molecular weight radionucleid 1-(D-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxy-D-4-(125)iodophenylalanyl)-4-cyclohexyl-4-[(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)methyl]piperidine trifluoroacetate ([(125)I]THIQ) were compared. Kinetic analysis indicated heterogeneity in the binding of both radioligands, the binding apparently proceeding to two tandemly arranged interconnected mutually dependent binding sites. Steric considerations and BRET analysis of Rluc and GFP tagged receptors proposed that these sites are located on different subunits of receptor dimers, which form receptor complexes. According to the minimal model proposed, ligand binding proceeds consecutively to the two binding sites of the dimer. After binding of the first ligand conformational transformations of the complex occur, which is followed by binding of the second ligand. When both receptor units have bound [(125)I]NDP-MSH, the radioligand can be released only from one unit. The [(125)I]NDP-MSH bound to the remaining unit stays practically irreversibly bound due to a very slow retransformation rate of the transformed complex. The considerably faster binding of [(125)I]THIQ did not allow accurate kinetic differentiation of the two binding sites. However, addition of NDP-MSH as well as a fragment of the human agouti protein, hAGRP(83-132) to the preformed [(125)I]THIQ-MC(4)R complex drastically retarded the release of [(125)I]THIQ from the complex, blocking conformational transformations in the complex by binding into the second binding site. The consecutive binding of ligands to the MC(4)R dimers has substantial impact on the apparent ligand potencies, when determined in competition with the two different radioligands applied herein; the apparent potencies of the same ligand differing up to three orders of magnitude when assayed in competition with [(125)I]NDP-MSH or [(125)I]THIQ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergei Kopanchuk
- Institute of Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, University of Tartu, Jakobi 2, 51014 Tartu, Estonia
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7
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Nargund RP, Strack AM, Fong TM. Melanocortin-4 Receptor (MC4R) Agonists for the Treatment of Obesity. J Med Chem 2006; 49:4035-43. [PMID: 16821763 DOI: 10.1021/jm058241a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ravi P Nargund
- Merck Research Laboratories, P.O. Box 2000, Rahway, New Jersey 07065, USA.
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8
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Bakshi RK, Hong Q, Tang R, Kalyani RN, Macneil T, Weinberg DH, Van der Ploeg LHT, Patchett AA, Nargund RP. Optimization of a privileged structure leading to potent and selective human melanocortin subtype-4 receptor ligands. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2005; 16:1130-3. [PMID: 16364639 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2005.11.095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2005] [Revised: 11/25/2005] [Accepted: 11/28/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Design and synthesis of potent MC4 selective agonists based on cyclohexylpiperidine derived cyclic urea, oxazolidinones, and sulfonamide based privileged structures are disclosed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raman K Bakshi
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, NJ 07065-0900, USA.
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Bakshi RK, Hong Q, Olson JT, Ye Z, Sebhat IK, Weinberg DH, MacNeil T, Kalyani RN, Tang R, Martin WJ, Strack A, McGowan E, Tamvakopoulos C, Miller RR, Stearns RA, Tang W, Maclntyre DE, van der Ploeg LHT, Patchett AA, Nargund RP. 1-Amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene-2-carboxylic acid as a Tic mimetic: Application in the synthesis of potent human melanocortin-4 receptor selective agonists. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2005; 15:3430-3. [PMID: 15951175 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2005.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2005] [Revised: 04/26/2005] [Accepted: 05/03/2005] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The discovery of 1-amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene-2-carboxylic acid analogs as potent human melanocortin-4 selective agonists is described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raman K Bakshi
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, NJ 07065-0900, USA.
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10
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2-Piperazinecarboxamides as potent and selective melanocortin subtype-4 receptor agonists. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2005; 15:1993-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2005.02.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2005] [Revised: 02/18/2005] [Accepted: 02/22/2005] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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11
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Palucki BL, Park MK, Nargund RP, Ye Z, Sebhat IK, Pollard PG, Kalyani RN, Tang R, Macneil T, Weinberg DH, Vongs A, Rosenblum CI, Doss GA, Miller RR, Stearns RA, Peng Q, Tamvakopoulos C, McGowan E, Martin WJ, Metzger JM, Shepherd CA, Strack AM, Macintyre DE, Van der Ploeg LHT, Patchett AA. Discovery of (2S)-N-[(1R)-2-[4-cyclohexyl-4-[[(1,1-dimethylethyl)amino]carbonyl]-1-piperidinyl]-1-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]-2-oxoethyl]-4-methyl-2-piperazinecarboxamide (MB243), a potent and selective melanocortin subtype-4 receptor agonist. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2005; 15:171-5. [PMID: 15582434 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2004.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2004] [Revised: 10/05/2004] [Accepted: 10/05/2004] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
We report the discovery and optimization of substituted 2-piperazinecarboxamides as potent and selective agonists of the melanocortin subtype-4 receptor. Further in vivo development of lead agonist, MB243, is disclosed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenda L Palucki
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, NJ 07065-0900, USA.
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