title: Direct influence of C-terminally substituted amino acids in the Dmt-Tic pharmacophore on delta-opioid receptor selectivity and antagonism.
abstract: A series of 17 analogues were developed on the basis of the general formula H-Dmt-Tic-NH-CH(R)-R' (denotes chirality; R = charged, neutral, or aromatic functional group; R' = -OH or -NH(2)). These compounds were designed to test the following hypothesis: the physicochemical properties of third-residue substitutions C-terminal to Tic in the Dmt-Tic pharmacophore modify delta-opioid receptor selectivity and delta-opioid receptor antagonism through enhanced interactions with the mu-opioid receptor. The data substantiate the following conclusions: (i) all compounds had high receptor affinity [K(i)(delta) = 0.034-1.1 nM], while that for the mu-opioid receptor fluctuated by orders of magnitude [K(i)(mu) = 15.1-3966 nM]; (ii) delta-opioid receptor selectivity [K(i)(mu)/K(i)(delta)] declined 1000-fold from 22,600 to 21; (iii) a C-terminal carboxyl group enhanced selectivity but only as a consequence of the specific residue; (iv) amidated, positive charged residues [Lys-NH(2) (6), Arg-NH(2) (7)], and a negatively charged aromatic residue [Trp-OH (11)] enhanced mu-opioid affinity [K(i)(mu) = 17.0, 15.1, and 15.7 nM, respectively], while Gly-NH(2) (8), Ser-NH(2) (10), and His-OH (12) were nearly one-tenth as active; and (v) D-isomers exhibited mixed effects on mu-opioid receptor affinity (2' << 3' < 4' < 1' < 5') and decreased delta-selectivity in D-Asp-NH(2) (1') and D-Lys(Ac)-OH (5'). The analogues exhibited delta-opioid receptor antagonism (pA(2) = 6.9-10.07) and weak mu-opioid receptor agonism (IC(50) > 1 microM) except H-Dmt-Tic-Glu-NH(2) (3), which was a partial delta-opioid receptor agonist (IC(50) = 2.5 nM). Thus, these C-terminally extended analogues indicated that an amino acid residue containing a single charge, amino or guanidino functionality, or aromatic group substantially altered the delta-opioid receptor activity profile (selectivity and antagonism) of the Dmt-Tic pharmacophore, which suggests that the C-terminal constituent plays a major role in determining opioid receptor activity as an "address domain".
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology, University of Cagliary, I-09126 Cagliary, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Balboni
authors.forename: Severo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salvadori
authors.forename: Remo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guerrini
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Negri
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giannini
authors.forename: Sharon D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Bryant
authors.forename: Yunden
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jinsmaa
authors.forename: Lawrence H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Lazarus
mesh_terms: D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D000818:Animals; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004151:Dipeptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011869:Radioligand Assay; D051381:Rats; D017465:Receptors, Opioid, delta / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013574:Synaptosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D014649:Vas Deferens / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C446951:2',6'-dimethyltyrosyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid; D004151:Dipeptides; D017465:Receptors, Opioid, delta; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines