End-capping of the modified melanocortin tetrapeptide (p-Cl)Phe-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-NH2 as a route to hMC4R agonists.

Of the 42 R'-X-(p-Cl)Phe-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-NH(2) (X=CO, SO(2), PO, PS) tested at the human (h)MC1, hMC3, and hMC4 receptors (R), the most potent MC4R agonists (EC(50) of 8-20 nM) were obtained by end-capping with R'=CH(2)CHCH(2) (9), NCCH(2) (16), NH(2)COCH(2) (17), HCONHCH(2) (18), CH(3)NH (19), CH(2)CHCH(2)NH (21), 2-Th (23), PhCH(2) (30) and X=CO. These compounds possess 35-60-fold hMC4 versus hMC1Rs selectivity with urea LK-71 (19) being the most potent at hMC4R and MC4/1R selective (EC(50)=8.5 nM, MC4/1R=100). LK-75 (16) combines high potency at hMC4R and MC4/3R selectivity (EC(50)=10.5 nM, MC4/3R=290). SAR is discussed.

Analogs of sub-nanomolar hMC1R agonist LK-184 [Ph(CH2)3CO-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-NH2]. An additional binding site within the human melanocortin receptor 1?

Twenty nine analogs of a superpotent MC1R agonist LK-184 (1) were tested at human melanocortin receptors (hMC1, hMC3, and hMC4Rs). All derivatives with the spacer between the N-terminus and the aromatic ring longer or shorter than C(3) were much less potent at hMC1R than 1. Only LK-312 PhCO(CH(2))(3)CO-His-d-Phe-Arg-Trp-NH(2) (3), partially mimicking the pi-system of 1, had an EC(50) of 0.05 nM at hMC1R, which confirms the localization of the pi-binding zone of the receptor. Truncation of 1 to Ph(CH(2))(3)CO-His-d-Phe-Arg-NH(2) gave a full MC1 agonist, LK-394 (30), with an EC(50) of 5 nM and a weak partial agonism at MC3/4Rs. This suggests the existence of an additional binding site within hMC1R next to that for the core sequence His-d-Phe-Arg-Trp-NH(2).

Sub-nanomolar hMC1R agonists by end-capping of the melanocortin tetrapeptide His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-NH(2).

Twenty three derivatives of the core fragment His(6)-D-Phe(7)-Arg(8)-Trp(9)-NH(2) end-capped with carboxylic and sulfonic acids were synthesized and evaluated at human melanocortin receptors (hMC1, hMC3, and hMC4Rs). The SAR within this series allowed us to map the hMCRs near the His(6) binding site and design a superpotent MC1R agonist, LK-184, Ph(CH(2))(3)CO-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-NH(2) (19) with EC(50) 0.01 nM (5 nM at MC3 and MC4Rs).

The local minima method (LMM) of pharmacophore determination: a protocol for predicting the bioactive conformation of small, conformationally flexible molecules.

Software has been developed for potential energy surface analysis and the local minima method of pharmacophore determination. LMM is rigorous and systematic and employs multiple conformations which are the local minima from the potential energy surface of each compound in the data set. It produces a series of possible pharmacophores from a postulated set of pharmacophore elements. The best pharmacophore is then determined by performing a comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) on each one. The pharmacophore which produces the most self-consistent model is deemed the best. Local minima on the gas-phase potential energy surface are shown to be a reasonably close approximation to protein bound conformations, and these conformations can be found through systematic conformational searches followed by minimization of the local minima. LMM was used to develop a 3D-QSAR model for dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) inhibitors which was highly predictive (predictive R2 = 0.71 and standard error of predictions = 0.41). The model predicted that the phenyl and thienyl series of inhibitors were acting as bioisosteres. Examination of compounds overlayed in the model indicated a possible hydrogen bond acceptor in the DBH active site. Three tyrosine residues previously labeled by mechanism based inhibitors may be acting as the acceptor and therefore represent excellent candidates for site-directed mutagenesis studies.

Pancreastatin inhibits insulin secretion in RINm5F cells through obstruction of G-protein mediated, calcium-directed exocytosis.

To elucidate the regulatory pathway through which pancreastatin inhibits insulin secretion, RINm5F insulinoma cells were challenged with physiological and pharmacological probes known to stimulate insulin release through different mechanisms. Utilizing the electrophysiological technique of capacitance measurements as a correlate to exocytosis, pancreastatin was found to significantly diminish maximum capacitance changes evoked by glyceraldehyde, an effect which was attenuated in pertussis toxin-treated cells. In static incubations of this cell line, pancreastatin significantly inhibited insulin secretion stimulated by glyceraldehyde, carbachol and A23187, secretagogues known to directly elevate beta-cell cytosolic Ca2+. This peptide also inhibited insulin secretion stimulated by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), but only at incubation times < or = 15 min. It was without effect on insulin secretion stimulated by mastoparan and longer incubations (30 min) with PMA, where the secretory mechanisms are not necessarily Ca(2+)-dependent. Additionally, pancreastatin had no effect on carbachol-generated inositol phosphate accumulation but inhibited simultaneously stimulated insulin secretion. All inhibitory effects of pancreastatin were pertussis toxin sensitive. These results suggest that pancreastatin inhibits insulin secretion in RINm5F cells through a G-protein regulated mechanism at a control point involved in the Ca(2+)-directed exocytotic machinery, a feature shared by other physiologic inhibitors of insulin secretion.

Evidence for cholecystokinin receptor subtype in endocrine pancreas.

Cholecystokinin (CCK) is a gut hormone that regulates pancreatic endocrine functions via CCKA receptors. CCK4 (Trp-Met-Asp-Phe-NH2) has an insulinotropic effect, but is 1000-fold less potent than CCK8. The in vitro potencies and selectivity of newly synthesized CCK4 analogs were investigated. Exchanging various a amino acids, for example Met by Nle and modifying Phe and/or Trp, led to compounds that were much more effective than CCK4 itself and show insulinotropic effects comparable with those of CCK8. Compounds that possess electron withdrawing groups on the C-terminal phenylalanine were especially effective; compounds with electron-donating groups had no effect. In contrast to CCK8 the synthetic CCK4 compounds were selective for the endocrine pancreas: they had no agonistic or antagonistic effect on the contraction of the guinea pig ileum, amylase release from isolated acini, and no major effect on the feeding behavior of mice being supplied with either compound by an implantable AlzetR pump for 8 days. The data indicate that some of the synthetic tetrapeptides exhibit a high affinity for the CCK receptor of the endocrine pancreas and that they are highly selective for this (peripheral) CCKA receptor subtype. The beta-cell CCKA receptors are different from those in exocrine pancreas, smooth muscle, and those for regulating appetite; these peripheral receptor subtypes can be discriminated for the first time.

Mechanistic studies of sterol carrier protein-2 effects on L-cell fibroblast plasma membrane sterol domains.

The factors which regulate intermembrane sterol domains and exchange in biomembranes are not well understood. A new fluorescent sterol exchange assay allowed correlation of changes in polarization to sterol transfer. Analysis of spontaneous sterol exchange between L-cell plasma membranes indicated two exchangeable and one very slowly or nonexchangeable sterol domain. The exchangeable domains exhibited half-times of 23 and 140 min with fractional contributions of 5 and 30%, respectively. Sterol carrier protein-2 (SCP-2) enhanced sterol exchange between L-cell plasma membranes and altered sterol domain size in a concentration dependent manner. Previous model membrane studies indicate that SCP-2 alters sterol domains and exchange through interaction with anionic phospholipids. In contrast to these observations, the ionic shielding agents KCl, low pH, or neomycin were either totally or partially ineffective inhibitors of SCP-2 action in L-cell plasma membrane exchanges. Thus the mechanism of SCP-2 in sterol transfer appears to be less charge dependent in L-cell plasma membranes than in model membranes. The cholesterol lowering drug probucol was also capable of altering the sterol exchange kinetics.

Virus envelope-based peptide vaccines against virus-induced mammary tumors.

Previous studies by us and others established that mammary tumors induced by murine mammary tumor virus (MuMTV) could be prevented to various extents by prior vaccination with MuMTV-containing or subviral component immunogens. In this report, four predicted surface-accessible peptide regions (EP-1 to EP-4) of the major viral envelope glycoprotein (gp52) of C3H-MuMTV were tested as carrier-conjugated vaccines for the protection of Balb/c mice against a live virus challenge. With tumor incidence as an endpoint, vaccination with one of these synthetic peptides (EP-3) resulted in a significant reduction in the frequency of early onset tumors and 67% of the test animals remained tumor-free for the entire observation period (16 months). In contrast, only marginal protection was obtained by immunization with the intact glycoprotein (gp52). Immunologic interference may explain the lower protective efficacy of gp52, as compared to EP-3.

Stimulation of insulin secretion from pancreatic islets by the cholecystokinin-tetrapeptide analogs Trp-Pro-Asp-Phe-NH2 and Trp-Pro-Asp-Phe(4'-NO2)-NH2.

The cholecystokinin-tetrapeptide (CCK4) analogs Trp-Pro-Asp-Phe-NH2 (3) and Trp-Pro-Asp-Phe-(4'-NO2)-NH2 (4) were found to be nearly equipotent to cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK8) in potentiating glucose-induced insulin secretion from islets of Langerhans isolated from rat pancreas. This stimulatory action was found to be dose-dependent and, in the case of 4, to exhibit a biphasic dose-response curve; i.e., at concentrations greater than 1.0 nM, the stimulating effect of 4 is reversed. These results suggest that conformational restriction of CCK4 and/or modification of the phenylalanine residue could produce more potent analogs capable of stimulating insulin release. Such compounds could have potential therapeutic utility in the treatment of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).

Synthesis and resolution of novel 3'-substituted phenylalanine amides.

A convenient approach to the synthesis of ring-substituted phenylalanine amides is described. Phase transfer alkylation of N-(diphenylmethylene)amino acetonitrile or N-(diphenylmethylene)glycine ethyl ester provides alpha-substituted imines 2 and 6. After acid hydrolysis and esterification, resolution with alpha-chymotrypsin provided 3'-substituted phenylalanine analogs 9a-d which could easily be converted to N alpha-t-butyloxycarbonyl-phenylalanine amides for use in the synthesis of peptide analogs. The approach described here is amenable to the synthesis of 3-substituted phenylalanines with a wide variety of substituents for determination of structure-activity relationships of peptides.

Cyclic melanotropins. 9. 7-D-Phenylalanine analogues of the active-site sequence.

The cyclic melanotropin Ac-Ser1-Tyr2-Ser3-Cys4-Glu5-His6-Phe7-Arg8 -Trp9-Cys10-Lys11-Pro12-Val13-NH is a highly potent agonist as determined in several melanocyte bioassays. In linear melanotropins, a D-Phe7 substitution leads to increased potency and often prolonged biological activity. In order to determine if this substitution would have the same effect in cyclic melanotropins, we have prepared a series of these analogues. The D-Phe7-substituted cyclic melanotropins Ac-[Cys4,D-Phe7,Cys10]-alpha-MSH4-10-NH2 and Ac-[Cys4,D-Phe7,Cys10]-alpha-MSH4-11-NH2 were both more potent than their cyclic L-Phe7-containing counterparts in either the frog or lizard skin bioassay by more than a factor of 10. Neither peptide, however, exhibited prolongation of biological activity in either assay. Substitution of D-Phe7 into the cyclic 4-12 and 4-13 sequences led to a slight or no increase in potency in both assays relative to the L-Phe7 counterparts, but the activity of the melanotropins was ultraprolonged in each assay. Ac-[Cys4,D-Phe7,Cys10]-alpha-MSH4-12-NH2 was about equipotent to Ac-[Cys4,D-Phe7,Cys10]-alpha-MSH4-13-NH2, again demonstrating, as with certain linear and cyclic L-Phe7-containing melanotropins, that the C-terminal amino acid valine is not required for biological activity or for superpotency. Similar to the linear D-Phe7 analogues that possessed ultraprolonged melanotropic activity, the 4-12 and 4-13 cyclic D-Phe7 analogues also displayed the phenomenon of superagonism, which is a time-dependent increase in efficacy over that produced by an equipotent concentration of the native hormone. Cyclization of certain linear melanotropins resulted in analogues with increased resistance to biological degradation by serum enzymes or purified proteolytic enzymes. Further, incorporation of a D-Phe7 into in the cyclic analogues led to melanotropins that were totally resistant to enzymatic inactivation by trypsin.

Structural and conformational modifications of alpha-MSH/ACTH4-10 provide melanotropin analogues with highly potent behavioral activities.

Previous studies have identified the (4-10) heptapeptide sequence as the central core of alpha-MSH/ACTH peptides required for mediation of important biological activities. In the present study, the structure-activity relationships of Nle4-substituted and Cys4,Cys10-bridged cyclic alpha-MSH analogues, which were previously shown to exhibit a wide range of melanotropic potencies from weak agonism to super potency, were examined for grooming behavioral activity in the rat following intracerebroventricular injections. The results showed that stepwise C-terminal elongation of the linear Nle4-substituted Ac-alpha-MSH4-10-NH2 increased grooming potencies of the peptides in a manner similar to their actions on melanocytes. The most interesting finding was the observation that cyclization of the inactive linear "central (4-10) core" of alpha-MSH (Ac-alpha-MSH4-10) to form Ac-[Cys4,Cys10]-alpha-MSH4-10-NH2 resulted in a super potent agonist in the grooming assay. However, while cyclization of the (4-10) heptapeptide produced potent agonists on grooming behavior, the structure-activity relationships were different than the frog skin bioassay. These findings support the hypothesis that appropriate structural and confirmational modifications of alpha-MSH-related peptides can produce profound effects on the bioactivities of the peptides, and suggest that different structural-conformational requirements exist for alpha-MSH interactions with its various receptors.

Synthesis and biological actions of highly potent and prolonged acting biotin-labeled melanotropins.

Biocytin derivatives of a superpotent analogue of alpha-melanotropin, [Nle4,D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH, were prepared. [N alpha-Bct-Ser1, Nle4,D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH and [12-Bct-N alpha-dodecanoyl-Ser1,Nle4,D-Phe 7]- alpha-MSH were synthesized by solid-phase techniques, and the coupling of biotin and 12-aminododecanoic acid was achieved through their succinimido esters. These melanotropins possessed almost identical actions to [Nle4,D-Phe 7]- alpha-MSH as determined by several melanocyte bioassays. Both biocytin derivatives were highly potent agonists and exhibited prolonged biological activity as determined in the frog and lizard skin bioassays. Both biotinylated peptides were at least equipotent to alpha-MSH in stimulating Cloudman S91 mouse melanoma tyrosinase activity. The analogues were resistant to inactivation by alpha-chymotrypsin.

Studies on phenethylamine hallucinogens. 2. Conformations of arylmethoxyl groups using 13C NMR.

Carbon-13 chemical shift (delta) and spin-lattice relaxation time (T1) measurements were used to determine the conformation around the Ar-OCH3 bond of the arylmethoxyl groups in a series of substituted phenethylamines. Methoxyl groups flanked by two ortho substituents have delta 13C values higher (60.5-62.5 ppm) than those with one or no ortho substituents ((55.5-57.5 ppm) and T1 values considerably longer than those of the other methoxyl groups in the same molecule. These measurements indicate that methoxyl groups with two ortho substituents acquire the out-of-plane conformation, while those with one or no ortho substitutents exist in the planar conformation. Phenethylamine analogues with methoxyl groups in the out-of-plane conformation have low or no psychotomimetic activity. A possible explanation is that the out-of-plane methoxyl group interferes with the binding of the electron-rich methoxy-substituted aromatic ring to a corresponding electron-deficient component on the active site of the receptor.