A novel and selective beta-melanocyte-stimulating hormone-derived peptide agonist for melanocortin 4 receptor potently decreased food intake and body weight gain in diet-induced obese rats.
alphaMSH has generally been accepted as the endogenous ligand for melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R), which plays a major role in energy homeostasis. Targeting MC4R to develop antiobesity agents, many investigators have performed a structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies based on alphaMSH structure. In this report, we performed a SAR study using human betaMSH (5 - 22) (DEGPYRMEHFRWGSPPKD, peptide 1) as a lead sequence to develop potent and selective agonists for MC4R and MC3R. The SAR study was begun with a truncation of N terminus of betaMSH (5 - 22) together with acetylation of the N terminus and amidation of the C terminus of the peptide. Introduction of a cyclic disulfide constrain and replacement of L-Phe with D-Phe afforded a super potent agonist (peptide 5). Furthermore truncation at the C terminus generated a small and potent MC4R and MC3R agonist (Ac-YRcyclo[CEHdFRWC]amide, peptide 6), which exhibited no MC5R and greatly reduced MC1R activity. Molecular modeling of Ac-YRcyclo[CEHdFRWC]amide (peptide 6) revealed that Arg2 in the peptide formed a salt bridge with Glu4. Subcutaneous or intracerebroventricular administration of peptide 6 in rats showed potent in vivo efficacy as evidenced by its effects in reducing energy balance, increasing fat use, and decreasing weight gain in both acute and chronic rat metabolic studies. Furthermore, the antiobesity effect by peptide 6 was manifested only in wild-type but not MC4R-deficient mice, indicating that antiobesity effects of the peptide were attributed largely through MC4R but not MC3R agonist activity of the peptide.
Hsiung
Hansen M
HM
Division of Endocrine Research, Eli Lilly & Co., Indianapolis, Indiana 46285, USA. hansenhsiung@yahoo.com
Hertel
Jeanne
J
Zhang
Xing-Yue
XY
Smith
Dennis P
DP
Smiley
David L
DL
Heiman
Mark L
ML
Yang
Derek D
DD
Husain
Saba
S
Mayer
John P
JP
Zhang
Lianshan
L
Mo
Huaping
H
Yan
Liang Zeng
LZ
D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition; D001835:Body Weight; D004032:Diet; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects*; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4 / Q000819:agonists*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects*
D010446:Peptide Fragments; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4; C060221:MSH, beta, (5-22); D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones