Synthesis and receptor binding of opioid peptide analogues containing beta3-homo-amino acids.

beta-Amino acids containing hybrid peptides and beta-peptides show great potential as peptidomimetics. In this paper we describe the synthesis and affinity toward the micro- and delta-opioid receptors of beta-peptides, analogues of Leu-enkephalin, deltorphin I, dermorphin and alpha,beta-hybrides, analogues of deltorphin I. Substitution of alpha-amino acid residues with beta(3)-homo-amino acid residues, in general resulted in decrease of affinity to opioid receptors. However, the incorporation beta(3)h-D-Ala in position 2 or beta(3)hPhe in position 3 of deltorphin I resulted in potent and selective ligand for delta-opioid receptor. The NMR studies of beta-deltorphin I analogue suggest that conformational motions in the central part of the peptide backbone are partially restricted and some conformational preferences can be expected.

Complete (1)H and (13)C signal assignment of prenol-10 with 3D NMR spectroscopy.

The complete assignment of (1)H and (13)C chemical shifts of natural abundance prenol-10 is reported for the first time. It was achieved using 3D NMR experiments, which were based on random sampling of the evolution time space followed by multidimensional Fourier transform. This approach makes it possible to acquire 3D NMR spectra in a reasonable time and preserves high resolution in indirectly detected dimensions. It is shown that the interpretation of 3D COSY-HMBC and 3D TOCSY-HSQC spectra is crucial in the structural analysis of prenol-10.

N-(ureidoethyl)amides of cyclic enkephalin analogs.

Novel N-(ureidoethyl)amides of cyclic enkephalin analogs have been synthesized. The p-nitrophenyl carbamate of 1-Boc-1,2-diaminoethane was coupled with 4-methylbenzhydrylamine (MBHA) resin. The Boc group was removed by treatment with HCl/dioxane, and the peptide chain was assembled using Boc strategy. For deprotection of amino function, HCl/dioxane was used. D-Lys or D-Orn were incorporated in position 2, and the side chains of Lys, Orn, Dab, or Dap in position 5 were protected with Fmoc group. Side chain protection was removed by treatment with 55% piperidine in DMF, and cyclization was achieved by treatment with bis-(4-nitrophenyl)carbonate to form a urea bridge. The peptide was cleaved from the resin by treatment with 45% TFA in DCM. The peptides were tested in the guinea-pig ileum (GPI) and mouse vas deferens (MVD) assays. Divers opioid activities were observed, depending on the size of the ring. In comparison with [Leu(5)]enkephalin, all peptides were more active in the GPI assay (between 125 and 12 times), and some of them were also more potent in the MVD assay. The conformational propensities of each peptide were determined using the EDMC method in conjunction with NMR experiments. This approach allows treating the dynamical behavior of small peptides properly. The results were compared with those obtained previously for corresponding nonsubstituted amides and are in agreement with the biologically active conformation proposed by us earlier.