Functional Selectivity Revealed by N-Methylation Scanning of Human Urotensin II and Related Peptides.

In accordance with their common but also divergent physiological actions, human urotensin II (1) and urotensin II-related peptide (2) could stabilize specific urotensin II receptor (UTR) conformations, thereby activating different signaling pathways, a feature referred to as biased agonism or functional selectivity. Sequential N-methylation of the amides in the conserved core sequence of 1, 2, and fragment U-II4-11 (3) shed light on structural requirements involved in their functional selectivity. Thus, 18 N-methylated UTR ligands were synthesized and their biological profiles evaluated using in vitro competition binding assays, ex vivo rat aortic ring bioassays and BRET-based biosensor experiments. Biological activity diverged from that of the parent structures contingent on the location of amide methylation, indicating relevant hydrogen-bond interactions for the function of the endogenous peptides. Conformational analysis of selected N-methyl analogs indicated the importance of specific amide residues of 2 for the distinct pharmacology relative to 1 and 3.

Urotensin core mimics that modulate the biological activity of urotensin-II related peptide but not urotensin-II.

A novel approach for the synthesis of head-to-tail cyclic peptides has been developed and used to prepare two mimics of the urotensin II-related peptide (URP) cyclic core. Mimics 1 and 2 (c[Trp-Lys-Tyr-Gly-ψ(triazole)-Gly] and c[Phe-Trp-Lys-Tyr-Gly-ψ(triazole)-Gly]) were respectively prepared using a combination of solid- and solution-phase synthesis. The silyl-based alkyne-modifying (SAM) linker enabled installation of C-terminal alkyne and N-terminal azide moieties onto linear peptide precursors, which underwent head-to-tail copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) in solution. In an aortic ring contraction assay, neither 1 nor 2 exhibited agonist activity; however, both inhibited selectively URP- but not UII-mediated vasoconstriction. The core phenylalanine residue was shown to be important for enhancing modulatory activity of the urotensinergic system.

Urotensin II((4-11)) Azasulfuryl Peptides: Synthesis and Biological Activity.

Cyclic azasulfuryl (As) peptide analogs of the urotensin II (UII, 1, H-Glu-Thr-Pro-Asp-c[Cys-Phe-Trp-Lys-Tyr-Cys]-Val-OH) fragment 4-11 were synthesized to explore the influences of backbone structure on biological activity. N-Aminosulfamides were inserted as surrogates of the Trp(7) and Lys(8) residues in the biologically relevant Trp-Lys-Tyr triad. A combination of solution- and solid-phase methods were used to prepare novel UII((4-11)) analogs 6-11 by routes featuring alkylation of azasulfuryl-glycine tripeptide precursors to install various side chains. The pharmacological profiles of derivatives 6-11 were tested in vitro using a competitive binding assay and ex vivo using a rat aortic ring bioassay. Although the analogs exhibited weak affinity for the urotensin II receptor (UT) without agonistic activity, azasulfuryl-UII((4-11)) derivatives 7-9 reduced up to 50% of the effects of UII and urotensin II-related peptide (URP) without affecting their potency.

Lead optimization of P5U and urantide: discovery of novel potent ligands at the urotensin-II receptor.

We have optimized 1 (P5U) and urantide, two important ligands at the h-UT receptor, designing several analogues by the exchange of the Tyr9 residue with different unnatural aromatic amino acids. This study allowed us to discover novel ligands with improved activity. In particular, the replacement of the Tyr9 residue by (pCN)Phe or (pNO2)Phe within the urantide sequence led to compounds 13 (UPG-83) and 15 (UPG-95), respectively, which showed pure antagonist activity toward UT receptor in a rat aorta bioassay. More interestingly, the replacement of the Tyr9 in 1 sequence with the Btz or the (3,4-Cl)Phe residues led to superagonists 6 (UPG-100) and 10 (UPG-92) with pEC50 values at least 1.4 log higher than that of 1, being the most potent UT agonists discovered to date. Compounds 10 and 13 showed also a good stability in a serum proteolytic assay. These ligands represent new useful tools to further characterize the urotensinergic system in human physiopathology.

New insight into the binding mode of peptides at urotensin-II receptor by Trp-constrained analogues of P5U and urantide.

Urotensin II (U-II) is a disulfide bridged peptide hormone identified as the ligand of a G-protein-coupled receptor. Human U-II (H-Glu-Thr-Pro-Asp-c[Cys-Phe-Trp-Lys-Tyr-Cys]-Val-OH) has been described as the most potent vasoconstrictor compound identified to date. We have recently identified both a superagonist of human U-II termed P5U (H-Asp-c[Pen-Phe-Trp-Lys-Tyr-Cys]-Val-OH) and the compound termed urantide (H-Asp-c[Pen-Phe-D-Trp-Orn-Tyr-Cys]-Val-OH), which is the most potent UT receptor peptide antagonist described to date. In the present study, we have synthesized four analogues of P5U and urantide in which the Trp(7) residue was replaced by the highly constrained L-Tpi and D-Tpi residues. The replacement of the Trp(7) by Tpi led to active analogues. Solution NMR analysis allowed improving the knowledge on conformation-activity relationships previously reported on UT receptor ligands.

Structure-activity relationships of a novel series of urotensin II analogues: identification of a urotensin II antagonist.

Urotensin II (U-II) is a potent vasoconstrictor peptide which has been identified as the endogenous ligand for the orphan G protein-coupled receptor GPR14 now renamed UT receptor. As the C-terminal cyclic hexapeptide of U-II (U-II(4-11), H-Asp-Cys-Phe-Trp-Lys-Tyr-Cys-Val-OH) possesses full biological activity, we have synthesized a series of U-II(4-11) analogues and measured their binding affinity on hGPR14-transfected CHO cells and their contractile activity on de-endothelialized rat aortic rings. The data indicate that a free amino group and a functionalized side-chain at the N-terminal extremity of the peptide are not required for biological activity. In addition, the minimal chemical requirement at position 9 of U-II(4-11) is the presence of an aromatic moiety. Most importantly, replacement of the Phe6 residue by cyclohexyl-Ala (Cha) led to an analogue, [Cha6]U-II(4-11), that was devoid of agonistic activity but was able to dose-dependently suppress the vasoconstrictor effect of U-II on rat aortic rings. These new pharmacological data, by providing further information regarding the structure-activity relationships of U-II analogues, should prove useful for the rational design of potent and nonpeptidic UT receptor agonists and antagonists.

Urotensin-II receptor ligands. From agonist to antagonist activity.

Urotensin II (U-II) is a disulfide bridged peptide hormone recently identified as the ligand of a G-protein-coupled receptor. Human U-II (H-Glu-Thr-Pro-Asp-cyclo[Cys-Phe-Trp-Lys-Tyr-Cys]-Val-OH) has been described as the most potent vasoconstrictor compound identified to date. We have recently identified both a superagonist of hU-II termed P5U and the compound termed urantide, which is the most potent UT receptor peptide antagonist described to date. Our previous conformational studies showed that hU-II and its analogues with agonist activity adopt a well-defined type II' beta-hairpin structure in anisotropic SDS membrane-like environment. This structural arrangement allows tight contact among the Trp7, Lys8, and Tyr9 side chains, which is fundamental to obtain full agonist activity. Here, we report an extensive SAR study on new analogues with agonist/antagonist activity on UT receptor. We investigated their biological activity and performed a conformational analysis by spectroscopic and computational methods. Our goal is to obtain a structure-based model able to explain the agonist/antagonist functional switching of these ligands.

Development and pharmacological characterization of "caged" urotensin II analogs.

Urotensin-II (U-II) is a cyclic 11-amino acid peptide known as a potent mammalian vasoconstrictor. To study some purported intracellular actions of U-II, masked analogs of this peptide, becoming biologically active only upon UV exposure, were developed. Those analogs described as "caged" were derivatized with a photolabile 4,5-dimethoxynitrobenzyl group on the side chain of Lys-8 or Tyr-9. Both caged analogs of U-II showed a major decrease in their affinity towards the UT receptor. Nevertheless, upon UV irradiation, the native and biologically active U-II peptide was recovered. Thus, this work describes the development of new "caged" U-II derivatives and demonstrates that vasoactivity of U-II can be controlled by masking and unmasking two key residues.

Central effects of native urotensin II on motor activity, ventilatory movements, and heart rate in the trout Oncorhynchus mykiss.

Urotensin II (UII) has been originally isolated from fish urophysis. However, in fish as in mammals, UII is also produced in brain neurons. Although UII binding sites are widely distributed in the fish central nervous system (CNS), little is known regarding its central activities. In the present study, we have investigated the effects of intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of synthetic trout UII on the duration of motor activity (ACT; evidenced by bursts of activity on the trace of the ventilatory signal), ventilatory frequency (VF), ventilatory amplitude (VA), and heart rate (HR) in unanesthesized trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. ICV injection of very low doses of UII (1 and 5 pmol) produced a dose-dependent increase of ACT without affecting VF, VA, or HR. At a higher dose (50 pmol), UII stimulated ACT as well as VF, VA, and HR. ICV injection of trout angiotensin II (5 pmol) did not affect ACT, VF, and VA, but provoked a robust increase in HR. These data provide the first evidence that central administration of UII stimulates motor activity in a nonmammalian vertebrate.

Cardiovascular actions of dogfish urotensin I in the dogfish, Scyliorhinus canicula.

A synthetic replicate of dogfish urotensin 1 (U-I), a 41-amino-acid residue peptide isolated from an extract of the caudal spinal cord region of the European spotted dogfish Scyliorhinus canicula was prepared in order to study its cardiovascular actions in the species of origin. Bolus intraarterial injections of dogfish U-I (0.3-30 nmol/kg body wt) into the celiac artery of unanesthetized dogfish produced a transient fall in arterial blood pressure (P < 0.05 in the dose range 1-3 nmol/kg) followed by a sustained and dose-dependent rise in pressure (P < 0.05 in the dose range 1-30 nmol/kg). The maximum depressor response (to 3 nmol/kg) was 0.25 +/- 0.08 kPa and the maximum pressor response (to 30 nmol/kg) was 1.08 +/- 0.09 kPa. There was no significant effect on heart rate at any dose tested. Pretreatment of the animals with the alpha-adrenergic receptor antagonist phentolamine significantly (P < 0.05) attenuated the pressor response to injections of dogfish U-I (1 nmol/kg and 10 mol/kg), demonstrating that the effects of the peptide are mediated, at least in part, through release of catecholamines. The data suggest that U-I, released together with potent pressor peptide urotensin II from the caudal neurosecretory system, may play a physiological role in cardiovascular regulation in elasmobranchs.

Adrenocorticotropic hormone-releasing activity of urotensin I and its fragments in vitro.

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-releasing activity of synthetic carp Urotensin I (UI) and its ten synthetic fragments were examined using cultured rat pituitary cells. Both UI(1-41) and rat CRF (rCRF) increased ACTH release in a similar fashion at a concentration range from 10 pM to 100 nM. The potency of UI(1-41) was about one seventh that of rCRF on a molar basis. Four of ten UI fragments, UI(1-36), UI(4-36), UI(6-36) and UI(1-19) showed relatively strong ACTH-releasing activity, whereas both UI(9-36) and UI(17-36) showed extremely weak ACTH-releasing activity. However, all these fragments showed the activity in a dose-dependent manner parallel with that of UI(1-41). The activity of UI(1-36) was weaker than UI(1-41), suggesting that the C-terminal 37-41 sequence is required to express the full ACTH-release activity, although each of four C-terminal fragments, UI(24-36), UI(24-41), UI(29-36) and UI(29-41), exhibited no activity. In summary, the 4-19 amino acid sequence of UI(is important to exhibit ACTH-releasing activity and the C-terminal 37-41 sequence will be necessary to express the full activity.

Disulfide bond-forming reaction using a dimethyl sulfoxide/aqueous HCl system and its application to regioselective two disulfide bond formation.

Disulfide bond formation in S-acetamidomethyl (Acm) cysteine-containing peptides by successive treatments with silver trifluoromethanesulfonate (AgOTf) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)/aqueous HCl is described. An S-Acm cysteine was found to be quantitatively converted into cysteine by deprotection of the Acm group with AgOTf followed by DMSO/aqueous HCl treatment. Under these reaction conditions, no significant side reactions were observed with oxidation-sensitive amino acids such as Met, Tyr and Trp. Oxytocin and a Trp-containing peptide, urotensin II, were prepared by this method. Furthermore, regioselective two disulfide bond formation was found to be feasible by the combination of air oxidation and the AgOTf-DMSO/HCl system. This strategy has been successfully applied to the syntheses of tachyplesin I and endothelin I, which have two disulfide bonds and a Trp residue in the molecule.

Cardiovascular actions of dogfish urotensin II in the dogfish Scyliorhinus canicula.

Bolus injections of synthetic dogfish urotensin II (0.1-1.0 nmol) into the celiac artery of the conscious dogfish Scyliorhinus canicula (n = 8) resulted in sustained and dose-dependent increases in arterial blood pressure and pulse pressure. A maximum rise in mean arterial pressure of 10.5 +/- 1.2 mmHg (equivalent to 38.6 +/- 4.2% over mean basal values) and a maximum increase in pulse pressure of 3.9 +/- 0.8 mmHg was elicited by injection of 0.5 nmol of peptide. In comparison, a bolus injection of epinephrine (5 nmol) elicited a rise of 24.8 +/- 3.3% in mean arterial pressure. Bolus injection of 0.5 nmol synthetic goby (Gillichthys mirabilis) urotensin II under the same conditions did not elicit a significant hypertensive response. When dogfish urotensin II (0.5 nmol) was administered 3 min after an intra-arterial injection of phentolamine, the rise in arterial blood pressure was completely abolished. Dogfish urotensin II produced a dose-dependent contraction (pD2 = 6.58 +/- 0.07; n = 8) of isolated rings of vascular muscle prepared from the first afferent branchial artery of the dogfish. A maximum contractile force of 1.3 mN was produced by 10(-5) M peptide. The urotensin II-induced contraction of the vascular rings was unaffected by pretreatment with tetrodotoxin (1 microM) or indomethacin (14 microM). It is concluded that urotensin II has potent hypertensive activity in the dogfish that is mediated, at least in part, through release of catecholamines, but the sustained nature of the pressor response suggests that the peptide may have a direct action on the heart.

Isolation and primary structure of urotensin II from the brain of a tetrapod, the frog Rana ridibunda.

A peptide related to urotensin II has been isolated in pure form from an extract of the brain of the European green frog, Rana ridibunda. The primary structure of the peptide was established as Ala-Gly-Asn-Leu-Ser-Glu-Cys-Phe-Trp-Lys-Tyr-Cys-Val and this sequence was confirmed by chemical synthesis. Frog urotensin II contains an additional amino acid residue compared with fish urotensin II peptides but the structure of the cyclic region of the molecule has been fully conserved. The data show that urotensin II is not confined to the caudal neurosecretory system of fish but is present in the central nervous system of a tetrapod.

Two-step hard acid deprotection/cleavage procedure for solid phase peptide synthesis.

A new two-step deprotection/cleavage procedure for t-butoxycarbonyl (Boc) based solid phase peptide synthesis is reported. First the protective groups are removed from 4-(oxymethyl)-phenylacetamidomethyl (PAM) resin attached peptide with the weak hard acid, trimethylsilyl bromide-thioanisole/trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). In the second step, the peptide is cleaved from the resin with a stronger hard acid such as trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate in TFA or with HF. The method is also shown to deformylate Nin-formyltryptophan moiety efficiently. The usefulness of this procedure for practical solid phase peptide synthesis is demonstrated by comparison with other deprotection methods in the synthesis of urotensin II and human endothelin.

Use of carboethoxysulfenyl chloride for disulfide bond formation.

The use of carboethoxysulfenyl chloride for disulfide bond formation and concomitant cyclization of five peptides was investigated. Even though cyclic peptides were obtained very rapidly and in good yields when cyclization was performed in aqueous media at different pHs (4 to 7), the final crude peptides were found to contain closely related impurities which, in the case of somatostatin and pressinoic acid, were not generated by air oxidation. This observation may limit the use of carboethoxysulfenyl chloride to those cases where other methods of disulfide bond formation prove inadequate.

Partial sequence and synthesis of urotensin I from Catastomus Commersoni.

The amino acid sequence (residues 4-34) of urotensin I, a 41 residue peptide from the urophysis of the Alberta white sucker Catastomus Commersoni, has been determined by a solid phase method. Based on the structure elucidated a peptide comprising residues 4-28 of urotensin I, Pro-Pro-Ile-Ser-Ile-Asp-Leu-Thr-Phe-His-Leu-Leu-Arg-Met-Ile-Glu-Met- Asn-Arg-Ile-Leu-Asn-Glu-Arg, was synthesized by a solid phase method. The synthetic peptide demonstrated no blood pressure lowering activity and did not block the hypotensive effect of native urotensin I in the rat. It appears that almost the entire sequence of urotensin I is required for binding to vascular receptors and that no "active region" is available in this regard.

Chemical synthesis of urotensin II, a somatostatin like peptide in the caudal neurosecretory system of fishes.

In the goby, Gillichthys mirabilis, urotensin II (a bioactive neuropeptide present in the urophysis of teleost fish) has the dodecapeptide sequence, H2N-AGTADC-FWKYCV-OH, which is homologous with mammalian somatostatin at positions 1, 2 and 7-9. The Merrifield solid phase synthesis of Gillichthys urotensin II (UII) was accomplished by stepwise assembly from the carboxy terminus using N-alpha-tert, butyloxycarbonyl (Boc) amino acids containing benzyl-derived groups for protection of side-chain functionalities, Coupling of amino acids to the growing peptide was mediated by diisopropylcarbodiimide (DIC) in the presence of 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt). Residual alpha-amino groups remaining after coupling were blocked by acetylation with 1-acetylimidazole. Crude, synthetic UII was extracted from the HF-treated, protected peptide-resin product, reduced with dithiothreitol (DTT), reoxidized at high dilution with O2, and separated into its components using a single, preparative, reverse-phase HPLC step. The pure, synthetic UII, obtained in 7.6% yield from oxidized crude UII, was indistinguishable from pure, native UII in specific bioactivity, amino acid sequence, and retention time in each of two different HPLC systems.