title: Analogs of sub-nanomolar hMC1R agonist LK-184 [Ph(CH2)3CO-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-NH2]. An additional binding site within the human melanocortin receptor 1?
abstract: Twenty nine analogs of a superpotent MC1R agonist LK-184 (1) were tested at human melanocortin receptors (hMC1, hMC3, and hMC4Rs). All derivatives with the spacer between the N-terminus and the aromatic ring longer or shorter than C(3) were much less potent at hMC1R than 1. Only LK-312 PhCO(CH(2))(3)CO-His-d-Phe-Arg-Trp-NH(2) (3), partially mimicking the pi-system of 1, had an EC(50) of 0.05 nM at hMC1R, which confirms the localization of the pi-binding zone of the receptor. Truncation of 1 to Ph(CH(2))(3)CO-His-d-Phe-Arg-NH(2) gave a full MC1 agonist, LK-394 (30), with an EC(50) of 5 nM and a weak partial agonism at MC3/4Rs. This suggests the existence of an additional binding site within hMC1R next to that for the core sequence His-d-Phe-Arg-Trp-NH(2).
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA. lkoikov@hotmail.com
authors.forename: L N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Koikov
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Ebetino
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Solinsky
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cross-Doersen
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Knittel
mesh_terms: D001665:Binding Sites; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D044102:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 1 / Q000819:agonists* / Q000737:chemistry; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D009842:Oligopeptides; C484474:Ph(CH(2))(3)CO-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-NH(2); D044102:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 1