Nga N. Chung

Blood-Brain Barrier Penetration by Two Dermorphin Tetrapeptide Analogues : Role of Lipophilicity vs Structural Flexibility

Two dermorphin analogues having an almost identical structure but different structural flexibility were compared for opioid activity. In 1 the aromatic side chains were incorporated into a lactam structure, while in 2 N-amide alkylation was retained but the side chains were flexible. Both compounds produced comparable antinociceptive effects in the mouse tail flick test after peripheral administration. This indicates that lipophilicity, rather than side chain flexibility, is the key determinant for blood-CNS barrier penetration.

Structural Modifications of the N-terminal Tetrapeptide Segment of [D-Ala2]Deltorphin I: Effects on Opioid Receptor Affinities and Activities In Vitro and on Antinociceptive Potency

A series of deltorphin I analogs containing D- or L-N-methylalanine (MeAla), D- or L-proline (Pro), alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib), sarcosine (Sar) or D-tert-leucine (Tle) in place of D-Ala2, or phenylalanine in place of Tyr1, was synthesized. The opioid activity profiles of these peptides were determined in mu and delta opioid receptor-representative binding assays and bioassays in vitro as well as in the rat tail flick test in vivo. In comparison with the deltorphin I parent, both the L- and the D-MeAla2-analog were slightly more potent delta agonists in the mouse vas deferens (MDV) assay, and the D-MeAla2-analog showed two-fold higher antinociceptive potency in the analgesic test. In view of the fact that deltorphin analogs with an unsubstituted L-amino acid residue in the 2-position generally lack opioid activity, the observed high delta opioid potency of [L-MeAla2]deltorphin I is postulated to be due to the demonstrated presence of a conformer with a cis Tyr1-MeAla2 peptide bond, since the cis conformer allows for a spatial arrangement of the pharmacophoric moieties in the N-terminal tripeptide segment similar to that in active deltorphin analogs containing a D-amino acid residue in the 2-position. Substitution of Aib in the 2-position led to a compound, H-Tyr-Aib-Phe-Asp-Val-Val-Gly-NH2, which displayed lower delta receptor affinity than the parent peptide but higher delta selectivity and, surprisingly, three times higher antinociceptive potency. The D- and L-Pro2-, Sar2- and D-Tle2-analogs showed much reduced delta receptor affinities and were inactive in the tail flick test. Replacement of Tyr1 in deltorphin I with Phe produced a 32-fold decrease in delta receptor affinity but only a 7-fold drop in antinociceptive potency.

Variation of the net charge, lipophilicity, and side chain flexibility in Dmt(1)-DALDA: Effect on Opioid Activity and Biodistribution.

The influence of the side chain charges of the second and fourth amino acid residues in the peptidic μ opioid lead agonist Dmt-d-Arg-Phe-Lys-NH(2) ([Dmt(1)]-DALDA) was examined. Additionally, to increase the overall lipophilicity of [Dmt(1)]-DALDA and to investigate the Phe(3) side chain flexibility, the final amide bond was N-methylated and Phe(3) was replaced by a constrained aminobenzazepine analogue. The in vitro receptor binding and activity of the peptides, as well as their in vivo transport (brain in- and efflux and tissue biodistribution) and antinociceptive properties after peripheral administration (ip and sc) in mice were determined. The structural modifications result in significant shifts of receptor binding, activity, and transport properties. Strikingly, while [Dmt(1)]-DALDA and its N-methyl analogue, Dmt-d-Arg-Phe-NMeLys-NH(2), showed a long-lasting antinociceptive effect (>7 h), the peptides with d-Cit(2) generate potent antinociception more rapidly (maximal effect at 1h postinjection) but also lose their analgesic activity faster when compared to [Dmt(1)]-DALDA and [Dmt(1),NMeLys(4)]-DALDA.

Structure-activity relationships of dynorphin a analogues modified in the address sequence.

The peptide [Pro3]Dyn A(1-11)-NH2 2 exhibits high affinity (K(i) = 2.4 nM) and over 2000-fold selectivity for the opioid receptor. Stepwise removal of the C-terminal residues from this ligand demonstrated that its positively charged Arg residues, particularly Arg6 and Arg7, were crucial for binding to the kappa receptor. Analogues shorter than seven amino acids lacked significant affinity for opioid receptors. Comparison with a series of truncated analogues of Dyn A showed that the relative losses in binding potency differed only slightly between the two series. The neutral residues Ile8 and Pro10 could be removed without significant loss in affinity for the kappa receptor. Their replacement, in the Pro3 analogue, with additional Arg residues led to analogues with improved kappa affinity (e.g., [Pro3,Arg8]Dyn A(1-11)-NH2 20: K(i)(kappa) = 0.44 nM). This type of modification did not compromise the high kappa selectivity of the Pro3 analogues. These findings support the view that a negatively charged domain in the putative second extracellular loop of the kappa receptor selectively recognizes residues 6-11 of dynorphin through electrostatic interactions. As with parent compound 2, analogue 20 and related compounds displayed kappa antagonist properties.

Cyclic opioid peptide agonists and antagonists obtained via ring-closing metathesis.

The opioid peptide H‐Tyr‐c[D‐Cys‐Phe‐Phe‐Cys]NH2 cyclized via a methylene dithiother is a potent and selective μ opioid agonist (Przydial M.J. et al., J Peptide Res, 66, 2005, 255). Dicarba analogues of this peptide with Tyr, 2′,6′‐dimethyltyrosine (Dmt), 3‐[2,6‐dimethyl‐4‐hydroxyphenyl)propanoic acid (Dhp) or (2S)‐2‐methyl‐3‐(2,6‐dimethyl‐4‐hydroxyphenyl)propanoic acid [(2S)‐Mdp] in the 1‐position were prepared. The peptides were synthesized on solid‐phase by substituting d‐allylglycine and (2S)‐2‐amino‐5‐hexenoic acid in position 2 and 5, respectively, followed by ring‐closing metathesis. Mixtures of cis and trans isomers of the resulting olefinic peptides were obtained, and catalytic hydrogenation yielded the saturated –CH2–CH2– bridged peptides. All six Tyr1‐ and Dmt1‐dicarba analogues retained high μ and δ opioid agonist potency and showed only slight or no preference for μ over δ receptors. As expected, the six Dhp1‐ and (2S)‐Mdp1‐dicarba analogues turned out to be μ opioid antagonists but, surprisingly, displayed a range of different efficacies (agonism, partial agonism or antagonism) at the δ receptor. The obtained results indicate that the μ versus δ receptor selectivity and the efficacy at the δ receptor of these cyclic peptides depend on distinct conformational characteristics of the 15‐membered peptide ring structure, which may affect the spatial positioning of the exocyclic residue and of the Phe3 and Phe4 side chains.

Influence of new deltorphin analogues on reinstatement of cocaine-induced conditioned place preference in rats.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the δ-opioid receptors are involved in the rewarding and reinstatement effect of cocaine in the conditioned place preference (CPP) test. Male Wistar rats were conditioned with cocaine (5 mg/kg) or saline in a biased CPP procedure. The intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of naltrindole (5 nmol), δ-opioid receptor antagonist but not β-funaltrexamine (5 nmol), or nor-binaltorphimine (10 nmol), μ-opioid and κ-opioid receptor antagonists, respectively reversed the expression of the cocaine CPP. The i.c.v. administration of new analogues of deltorphins with potent agonist activity at δ-opioid receptors, such as cyclo(Nδ, Nδ-carbonyl-D-Orn2, Orn4)deltorphin (DEL-6) at the dose of 10 and 20 nmol and deltorphin II N-(ureidoethyl)amide (DK-4) at the dose of 10 and 20 nmol reinstated the rewarding effect of cocaine after extinction sessions in the CPP test. Naltrindole (5 nmol, i.c.v.) abolished the reinstated effect of DK-4 (10 nmol). In addition, DEL-6 and DK-4 induce anxiolytic-like effects in the elevated plus-maze test. However, neither peptide given alone either produced a rewarding effect in the CPP test, or influenced the locomotor activity and motor coordination, thus suggesting that these effects of peptides did not influence the results obtained in the reinstatement procedure of CPP. In conclusion, our results show that δ-opioid receptors play a dominant role in cocaine reward and reinstatement of cocaine seeking behavior in the CPP test.

[Aladan3]TIPP: A fluorescent δ-opioid antagonist with high δ-receptor binding affinity and δ selectivity†

Fluorescent analogues of the potent and highly selective δ‐opioid antagonist TIPP (HTyrTicPhePheOH) and TIP (HTyrTicPheOH) containing the exceptionally environmentally sensitive fluorescent amino acid β‐(6′‐dimethylamino‐2′‐naphthoyl)alanine (Aladan [Ald]) in place of Phe3 were synthesized. The Ald3‐ and D‐Ald3 analogues of TIPP and TIP all retained δ‐opioid antagonist properties. The most potent analogue, [Ald3]TIPP, showed a Ke value of 2.03 nM in the mouse vas deferens assay and five times higher δ vs. μ selectivity (K  μi /K  δi = 7930) than the TIPP parent peptide in the opioid receptor binding assays. Theoretical conformational analyses of [Ald3]TIPP and [Ald3]TIP using molecular mechanics calculations resulted in a number of low‐energy conformers, including some showing various patterns of aromatic ring stacking and others with the Ald side chain and a carbonyl group (fluorescence quencher) in close proximity. These ensembles of low‐energy conformers are in agreement with the results of steady‐state fluorescence experiments (fluorescence emission maxima and quantum yields) and fluorescence decay measurements (fluorescence lifetime components), which indicated that the fluorophore was either engaged in intramolecular hydrophobic interactions or in proximity of a fluorescence quencher (e.g., a carbonyl group). These fluorescent TIP(P) δ‐opioid antagonists represent valuable pharmacological tools for various applications, including studies on membrane interactions, binding to receptors, cellular uptake and intracellular distribution, and tissue distribution.

Structure-activity relationships of cyclic β-casomorphin-5 analogues

Cyclic analogues of the beta-casein-derived opioid peptide beta-casomorphin-5 (H-Tyr-Pro-Phe-Pro-Gly-OH) were prepared through substitution of the Pro2 residue with various alpha,omega-diamino acid residues (lysine, ornithine, 2,4-diaminobutyric acid) and cyclization of the omega-amino group to the C-terminal carboxyl function. Compounds of this type, with D-configuration at the 2-position residue, showed high opioid receptor affinity with some preference for mu receptors over delta receptors, high potency in the guinea pig ileum assay and considerable activity in the mouse vas deferens assay. Configurational inversion at the 4-position in these cyclic analogues resulted in enhanced affinity for both mu and delta receptors, whereas N-methylation of the Phe3 residue produced a potency decrease.

Bifunctional Peptide-Based Opioid Agonist–Nociceptin Antagonist Ligands for Dual Treatment of Acute and Neuropathic Pain

Herein, the opioid pharmacophore H-Dmt-d-Arg-Aba-β-Ala-NH2 (7) was linked to peptide ligands for the nociceptin receptor. Combination of 7 and NOP ligands (e.g., H-Arg-Tyr-Tyr-Arg-Ile-Lys-NH2) led to binding affinities in the low nanomolar domain. In vitro, the hybrids behaved as agonists at the opioid receptors and antagonists at the nociceptin receptor. Intravenous administration of hybrid 13a (H-Dmt-d-Arg-Aba-β-Ala-Arg-Tyr-Tyr-Arg-Ile-Lys-NH2) to mice resulted in potent and long lasting antinociception in the tail-flick test, indicating that 13a was able to permeate the BBB. This was further supported by a cell-based BBB model. All hybrids alleviated allodynia and hyperalgesia in neuropathic pain models. Especially with respect to hyperalgesia, they showed to be more effective than the parent compounds. Hybrid 13a did not result in significant respiratory depression, in contrast to an equipotent analgesic dose of morphine. These hybrids hence represent a promising avenue toward analgesics for the dual treatment of acute and neuropathic pain.

N-Methylated Cyclic Enkephalin Analogues Retain High Opioid Receptor Binding Affinity

In an effort to improve the bioavailability of the non‐selective, cyclic enkephalin analogues H‐Dmt‐c[d‐Cys‐Gly‐Phe‐d(or L)‐Cys]NH2 (Dmt = 2′,6′‐dimethyltyrosine), analogues N‐methylated at the Phe4 and/or Cys5 residue were synthesized. In comparison with the non‐methylated parent peptides, all mono‐ and N‐di‐methylated analogues in general retained high binding affinities at all three opioid receptors and high opioid agonist potencies in functional opioid activity assays. The results indicate that the progressive conformational restriction in these compounds upon mono‐ and di‐N‐methylation did not significantly affect the in vitro opioid activity profile. A low‐energy conformer identified for the conformationally most restricted analogue of the series, H‐Dmt‐c[D‐Cys‐Gly‐Phe(NMe)‐L‐Cys(NMe)]NH2 (6), showed good spatial overlap of the essential pharmacophoric moieties with those in the proposed μ receptor‐bound conformation of the μ‐selective opioid peptide JOM‐6 [H‐Tyr‐c(S‐Et‐S)[D‐Cys‐Phe‐D‐Pen]NH2] (Pen = penicillamine) [Mosberg M.I. and Fowler C.B. (2002) J Peptide Res; 60:329–335], in agreement with the moderate μ selectivity determined for this compound. An analogue of 6 containing (2S)‐2‐methyl‐3‐(2,6‐dimethyl‐4‐hydroxyphenyl)propanoic acid [(2S)‐Mdp] in place of Dmt1 was an opioid antagonist with quite high opioid receptor binding affinities and can be expected to show improved bioavailability because of its further increased lipophilicity and reduced hydrogen‐bonding capacity.