title: The influence of steric interactions on the conformation and biology of oxytocin. Synthesis and analysis of penicillamine(6)-oxytocin and penicillamine(6)-5-tert-butylproline(7)-oxytocin analogs.
abstract: Six [Pen(6)]oxytocin analogs were synthesized by substituting penicillamine for cysteine in oxytocin, [Mpa(1)]oxytocin, [dPen(1)]oxytocin, [5-t-BuPro(7)]oxytocin, [Mpa(1), 5-t-BuPro(7)]oxytocin and [dPen(1), 5-t-BuPro(7)]oxytocin. When tested in the uterotonic test in vitro [Pen(6)]oxytocin, [Pen(6), 5-t-BuPro(7)]oxytocin, [Mpa(1), Pen(6)]oxytocin and [Mpa(1), Pen(6), 5-t-BuPro(7)]oxytocin, all were found to possess both agonistic and antagonistic properties. Their agonistic potency ranged from negligible (0.08 IU/mg) to low (5.85 IU/mg) and their antagonistic potency (pA2) was estimated to range from 6.6 to 7.9. [dPen(1), Pen(6)]Oxytocin and [dPen(1), Pen(6), 5-t-BuPro(7)]oxytocin were found to be pure antagonists with similarly high pA2 values of approximately 8.2. Replacement of proline by 5-tert-butylproline increased binding affinity by a factor of two in [Pen(6)]oxytocin and had no influence on the binding affinity of [Mpa(1), Pen(6)]oxytocin and [dPen(1), Pen(6)]oxytocin. Assignment of the proton signals for prolyl amide cis- and trans-isomers by NMR experiments in water indicated that the Pen(6)-5-tert-BuPro(7) peptide bond cis-isomer population was augmented relative to the prolyl peptides and measured, respectively, at 20, 35 and 35% in the 5-tert-butylproline(7) analogs of [Pen(6)]oxytocin, [Mpa(1), Pen(6)]oxytocin and [dPen(1), Pen(6)]oxytocin. This augmentation in cis-isomer population was correlated with a 21-fold reduction in the agonistic potency and 2-fold augmentation in antagonistic potency for [Pen(6), 5-t-BuPro(7)]oxytocin relative to [Pen(6)]oxytocin. Augmentation of cis-isomer population was also correlated to reduced agonist potency without effect on antagonism on conversion of [Mpa(1), Pen(6)]oxytocin to [Mpa(1), Pen(6), 5-t-BuPro(7)]oxytocin. In the potent oxytocin antagonist, [dPen(1), Pen(6)]oxytocin, substitution of 5-tert-butylproline for proline augmented the cis-isomer population without affecting antagonistic potency. The synthesis and evaluation of [Pen(6)]oxytocin and [Pen(6), 5-t-BuPro(7)]oxytocin analogs 1-6 indicated that steric interactions influenced agonist and antagonist activity by modifying peptide conformation. Augmentations in the prolyl cis-isomer population caused by 5-tert-butylproline occurred concurrently with enhanced or maintained antagonistic potency and binding affinity and reduced agonistic potency.
authors.affiliation: Département de chimie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bélec
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maletinska
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Slaninová
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Lubell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry*; D011392:Proline / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: C407508:5-tert-butylproline; D010121:Oxytocin; D011392:Proline; D010396:Penicillamine