Rossella De Marco

Chemical Modifications Designed to Improve Peptide Stability: Incorporation of Non-Natural Amino Acids, Pseudo-Peptide Bonds, and Cyclization

Functions and properties of native peptides vary from highly specific antibiotics or cytotoxic antitumor drugs, to hormones, neurotransmitters, immunomodulators, etc. Despite their potential utility as therapeutic agents, there are problems connected with the use of natural peptides, due to the low stability against proteolysis, resulting in a short duration of in vivo activity, and in a low bioavailability. One way to overcome these disadvantages is the use of modified peptides, the so called peptidomimetics. Overall, the less peptide character in a drug candidate, the more stable it is towards protease cleavage. A huge number of non-peptidic scaffolds have been reported in the literature; nevertheless, several cases have failed to reproduce the activity of the precursor peptide when the scaffold itself contains relevant pharmacophore elements. Therefore, quasi-peptides still maintain their appeal for applications in medicinal chemistry. For the large number of different unnatural amino acids and peptidomimetics, the overview cannot be all-inclusive. This review focuses on modified peptides in which the peptide character is still preponderant, with particular emphasis on the chemical methodologies utilized to introduce the modifications.

Peripheral antinociceptive effects of the cyclic endomorphin-1 analog c[YpwFG] in a mouse visceral pain model

We previously described a novel cyclic endomorphin-1 analog c[Tyr-D-Pro-D-Trp-Phe-Gly] (c[YpwFG]), acting as a mu-opioid receptor (MOR) agonist. This study reports that c[YpwFG] is more lipophilic and resistant to enzymatic hydrolysis than endomorphin-1 and produces preemptive antinociception in a mouse visceral pain model when injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) or subcutaneously (s.c.) before 0.6% acetic acid, employed to evoke abdominal writhing (i.p. ED(50)=1.24 mg/kg; s.c. ED(50)=2.13 mg/kg). This effect is reversed by the selective MOR antagonist β-funaltrexamine and by a high dose of the mu(1)-opioid receptor-selective antagonist naloxonazine. Conversely, the kappa-opioid receptor antagonist nor-binaltorphimine and the delta-opioid receptor antagonist naltrindole are ineffective. c[YpwFG] produces antinociception when injected i.p. after acetic acid (ED(50)=4.80 mg/kg), and only at a dose of 20mg/kg did it elicit a moderate antinociceptive response in the mouse, evaluated by the tail flick assay. Administration of a lower dose of c[YpwFG] (10mg/kg i.p.) apparently produces a considerable part of antinociception on acetic acid-induced writhes through peripheral opioid receptors as this action is fully prevented by i.p. naloxone methiodide, which does not readily cross the blood-brain barrier; whereas this opioid antagonist injected intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) is not effective. Antinociception produced by a higher dose of c[YpwFG] (20mg/kg i.p.) is partially reversed by naloxone methiodide i.c.v. administered. Thus, only at the dose of 20mg/kg c[YpwFG] can produce antinociception through both peripheral and central opioid receptors. In conclusion, c[YpwFG] displays sufficient metabolic stability to be effective after peripheral administration and demonstrates the therapeutic potential of endomorphin derivatives as novel analgesic agents to control visceral pain.

Antiangiogenic Effect of Dual/Selective α5β1/αvβ3 Integrin Antagonists Designed on Partially Modified Retro-Inverso Cyclotetrapeptide Mimetics

Recent evidence highlighted the role of alpha(5)beta(1) integrin in angiogenesis and in regulating alpha(v)beta(3) integrin function. As a consequence, selective alpha(5)beta(1) integrin inhibitors or dual alpha(5)beta(1)/alpha(v)beta(3) integrin inhibitors are considered promising candidates for the development of cancer therapeutic agents. In this paper, we describe the synthesis and pharmacological characterization of a minilibrary of cyclotetrapeptide mimetics containing a PMRI Arg-Gly-Asp sequence. In particular, c[(R)-betaPhepsi(NHCO)Asppsi(NHCO)Gly-Arg] (3) displayed a good activity in inhibiting the alpha(v)beta(3) integrin-mediated cell adhesion of fibronectin or vitronectin, as well as the adhesion of fibronectin to the alpha(5)beta(1) integrin. Interestingly, the diastereomeric compound c[(S)-betaPhepsi(NHCO)Asppsi(NHCO)Gly-Arg] (2) maintained a good efficacy in inhibiting alpha(5)beta(1) integrin while gaining a certain selectivity over alpha(v)beta(3) integrin. These two integrin antagonists significantly inhibited bFGF-induced human endothelial cell tube formation at submicromolar concentrations. Conformational analysis and Molecular Docking calculations suggest that the different alpha(5)beta(1) versus alpha(v)beta(3) selectivity of 2 and 3 can be rationalized on the basis of the alternative display of the aromatic side chain adjacent to Asp.

The Inverse Type II β‐Turn on D‐Trp‐Phe, a Pharmacophoric Motif for MOR Agonists

Herein we propose the D‐Trp‐Phe sequence within an inverse type II β‐turn as a new kind of pharmacophoric motif for μ‐opioid receptor (MOR) cyclopeptide agonists. Initially, we observed that c[Tyr‐D‐Pro‐D‐Trp‐Phe‐Gly] (4), an analogue of endomorphin‐1 (H‐Tyr‐Pro‐Trp‐Phe‐NH2) lacking the crucial protonatable amino group of Tyr 1, is a MOR agonist with 10−8 M affinity. Molecular docking analysis suggested that the relevant interactions with the receptor involve D‐Trp‐Phe. The bioactive conformation of this region was investigated by selected derivatives of 4 designed to adopt an inverse type II β‐turn. These efforts led to c[Tyr‐Gly‐D‐Trp‐Phe‐Gly] (14) and to the cyclotetrapeptide c[D‐Asp‐1‐amide‐β‐Ala‐D‐Trp‐Phe] (15), showing improved nanomolar affinity. Both 14 and 15 selectively bind MOR, as they have negligible affinity for the κ‐ and δ‐opioid receptors. Both 14 and 15 behave as partial MOR agonists in functional assays. Conformational and docking analyses confirm the role of the inverse β‐turn in binding. These results indicate that the D‐Trp‐Phe inverse β‐turn structure can be used for designing non‐endomorphin‐like peptidomimetic opioid agonists in general, characterized by an atypical mechanism of interaction between ligand and receptor.

Expedient synthesis of pseudo-Pro-containing peptides: towards constrained peptidomimetics and foldamers.

The reaction of sulfonyl peptides containing L- or D-configured Ser or Thr with bis(succinimidyl) carbonate in the presence of a catalytic amount of a base affords, in solution or in the solid phase, the corresponding peptides with one or two, consecutive or alternate oxazolidin-2-ones (Oxd). The Oxd ring can be regarded to as a pseudo-Pro with an exclusively trans conformation of the preceding peptide bond; homochiral Oxd-containing peptides adopt extended conformations, while the presence of a D-configured Oxd favours folded conformations.

Synthesis of tripeptides containing D-Trp substituted at the indole ring, assessment of opioid receptor binding and in vivo central antinociception.

The noncationizable tripeptide Ac-D-Trp-Phe-GlyNH2 was recently proposed as a novel minimal recognition motif for μ-opioid receptor. The introduction of different substituents (methyl, halogens, nitro, etc.) at the indole of D-Trp significantly influenced receptor affinities and resulted in serum stability and in a measurable effect on central antinociception in mice after ip administration.

Synthesis and Analysis of the Conformational Preferences of 5-Aminomethyloxazolidine-2,4-dione Scaffolds: First Examples of β2- and β2, 2-Homo-Freidinger Lactam Analogues

Constrained peptidomimetic scaffolds are of considerable interest for the design of therapeutically useful analogues of bioactive peptides. We present the single-step cyclization of (S)- or (R)-α-hydroxy-β(2)- or α-substituted-α-hydroxy-β(2, 2)-amino acids already incorporated within oligopeptides to 5-aminomethyl-oxazolidine-2,4-dione (Amo) rings. These scaffolds can be regarded as unprecedented β(2)- or β(2, 2)-homo-Freidinger lactam analogues, and can be equipped with a proteinogenic side chain at each residue. In a biomimetic environment, Amo rings act as inducers of extended, semi-bent or folded geometries, depending on the relative stereochemistry and the presence of α-substituents.

Opioid Activity Profiles of Oversimplified Peptides Lacking in the Protonable N-Terminus

Recently, we described cyclopeptide opioid agonists containing the d-Trp-Phe sequence. To expand the scope of this atypical pharmacophore, we tested the activity profiles of the linear peptides Ac-Xaa-Phe-Yaa (Xaa = l/d-Trp, d-His/Lys/Arg; Yaa = H, GlyNH(2)). Ac-d-Trp-PheNH(2) appeared to be the minimal binding sequence, while Ac-d-Trp-Phe-GlyNH(2) emerged as the first noncationizable short peptide (partial) agonist with high μ-opioid receptor affinity and selectivity. Conformational analysis suggested that 5 adopts in solution a β-turn conformation.

Synthesis and Conformational Analysis of Cyclotetrapeptide Mimetic β-Turn Templates and Validation as 3D Scaffolds

The conformations of all stereoisomers of PMRI cyclotetrapeptide mimetics 1–8 are essentially determined by the predisposition of the diamine to stabilize β‐turns. The peptide mimetics can be regarded as 3D scaffolds for designing molecules with a predictable display of the pharmacophores. We used the models for testing novel RGD analogues as αvβ3‐integrin receptor antagonists.

Integrin Ligands with α/β-Hybrid Peptide Structure: Design, Bioactivity, and Conformational Aspects.

Integrins are cell surface receptors for proteins of the extracellular matrix and plasma‐borne adhesive proteins. Their involvement in diverse pathologies prompted medicinal chemists to develop small‐molecule antagonists, and very often such molecules are peptidomimetics designed on the basis of the short native ligand‐integrin recognition motifs. This review deals with peptidomimetic integrin ligands composed of α‐ and β‐amino acids. The roles exerted by the β‐amino acid components are discussed in terms of biological activity, bioavailability, and selectivity. Special attention is paid to the synthetic accessibility and efficiency of conformationally constrained heterocyclic scaffolds incorporating α/β‐amino acid span.