title: N-terminal modified analogs of HVFLRFamide with inhibitory activity on the locust oviduct.
abstract: New N-terminal analogs of the peptide HVFLRFamide, the minimum sequence of the insect myosuppressins capable of inhibiting spontaneous and induced contractions of the locust oviduct, were synthesized and tested for biologic activity on locust oviduct. Most active, as judged by the ability to inhibit proctolin-induced contractions of locust oviduct, was (N(alpha)-acetyl)-HVFLRFamide. D-Pro-HVFLRFamide was also highly inhibitory. Interestingly, low doses of the pentapeptide analog (N(alpha)-imidazoleacrylyl)-VFLRFamide inhibited oviduct contractions. This is the first pentapeptide analog shown to inhibit contractions of locust oviduct, and this result indicates that the alpha-amino group of His is not absolutely required for inhibitory activity. In all cases when His was replaced by a D-amino acid, the analogs were stimulatory, resulting in an increase in basal tonus of the locust oviduct. The results provide further insight into the structural features of the HVFLRFamide molecule that are required for inhibitory activity on locust oviduct muscle.
authors.affiliation: Southern Crop Protection and Food Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 1391 Sandford Street, London, Ontario, Canada. starratta@em.agr.ca
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Starratt
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Orchard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015195:Drug Design; D006110:Grasshoppers / Q000187:drug effects*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D007300:Insect Control; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D010057:Oviducts / Q000187:drug effects*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014781:Viscera / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: C096424:HVFLRFamide; D007093:Imidazoles; D009479:Neuropeptides; D009842:Oligopeptides; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C011536:proctolin