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Morphiceptin (Tyr-Pro-Phe-Pro-NH 2 ), a tetrapeptide amide, is a selective ligand of the μ-opioid receptor (MOR). This study reports the synthesis and biological evaluation of a series of novel morphiceptin analogs modified in positions 2 or/and 4 by introduction of 4,4-difluoroproline (F 2 Pro) in l or d configuration. Depending on the fluorinated amino acid configuration and its position in the sequence, new analogs behaved as selective full MOR agonists showing high, moderate, or relatively low potency. The most potent analog, Tyr-F 2 Pro-Phe- d -F 2 Pro-NH 2 , was also able to activate the κ-opioid receptor (KOR), although with low potency. Docking studies and the comparison of results with the high resolution crystallographic structure of a MOR-agonist complex revealed possible structure–activity relationships of this compound family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our efforts to develop new candidate drugs with antinociceptive and/or antidepressant-like activity, two novel endomorphin-2 (EM-2, Tyr-Pro-Phe-Phe-NH 2 ) analogs, containing proline surrogates in position 2 were synthesized using commercially available racemic trans -4-phenylpyrrolidine-3-carboxylic acid (4-Ph-β-Pro). The obtained mixture of two diastereoisomeric peptides ( 2a and 2b ) was separated by HPLC and both enantiopure analogs were used in the in vitro and in vivo studies. To assign the absolute configuration to the 4-Ph-β-Pro residues in both peptides, the stereoselective synthesis of (3 R ,4 S )-4-phenylpyrrolidine-3-carboxylic acid was performed and this enantiomer was introduced into position 2 of EM-2 sequence. Based on the HPLC retention times we were able to assign the absolute configuration of 4-Ph-β-Pro residues in both peptide analogs. Analog 2a incorporating (3 R ,4 S )-4-Ph-β-Pro residue produced strong analgesia in mice after intracerebroventricular (icv) administration which was antagonized by the μ-opioid receptor (MOR) antagonist, β-funaltrexamine (β-FNA). This analog also influenced an emotion-related behavior of mice, decreasing immobility time in the forced swimming and tail suspension tests, without affecting locomotor activity. The antidepressant-like effect was reversed by the δ-selective antagonist, naltrindole (NLT) and κ-selective nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI). Thus, the experiments with selective opioid receptor antagonists revealed that analgesic action of analog 2a was mediated through the MOR, while the δ- and κ-receptors (DOR and KOR, respectively) were engaged in the antidepressant-like activity. Analog 2b with (3 S ,4 R )-4-Ph-β-Pro in position 2 showed no antinociceptive or antidepressant-like activity in animal studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study reports the synthesis and biological evaluation of a series of new side-chain-to-side-chain cyclized endomorphin-2 (EM-2) and morphiceptin analogs of a general structure Tyr-c(Xaa-Phe-Phe-Yaa)NH2 or Tyr-c(Xaa-Phe-d-Pro-Yaa)NH2, respectively, where Xaa and Yaa were l/d Asp or l/d Lys. Further modification of these analogs was achieved by introduction of 2′,6′-dimethyl-l-tyrosine (Dmt) instead of Tyr in position 1. Peptides were synthesized by solid phase method and cleaved from the resin by a microwave-assisted procedure. Dmt1-substituted analogs displayed high affinity at the μ-opioid receptors, remained intact after incubation with the rat brain homogenate and showed remarkable, long-lasting μ-opioid receptor-mediated antinociceptive activity after central, but not peripheral administration. Our results demonstrate that cyclization is a promising strategy in the development of new opioid analgesics, but further modifications are necessary to enhance the blood–brain barrier permeability. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The expression and function of endothelin (ET) receptors is abnormal in cardiovascular diseases, tumor progression, and tumor metastasis. In this study, we prepared two [18F]-fluorinated derivatives of the non-peptide ETA receptor antagonist PD 156707 and evaluated their ET receptor binding potencies. Ex vivo as well as in vivo biodistribution studies in mice were performed, as well as the metabolism of the radiotracer, which was examined by metabolite analysis in mice and rats. All tested derivatives of PD 156707 exhibited potent in vitro pharmacological characteristics with K i values comparable to that of the lead compound. The biodistribution studies showed a high accumulation of the tracer in bile and intestine. In vivo we were able to show that the visualization of the heart as a major target organ with high ETAR expression is possible. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Endogenous μ-opioid receptor (MOR) selective peptides, endomorphin-1 (EM-1) and endomorphin-2 (EM-2), unlike so called ‘typical opioids’, are characterized by the presence of Pro2 residue, which is a spacer connecting aromatic pharmacophoric residues. In order to investigate structural requirements for position 2, we synthesized endomorphin analogs incorporating, instead of Pro, unnatural amino acids with six-membered heterocyclic rings, such as piperidine 2-, 3- or 4-carboxylic acids (Pip, Nip and Inp, respectively). (R)-Nip residue turned out to be favourable for improving MOR affinity. Introduction of 2′,6′-dimethyltyrosine (Dmt) instead of Tyr1 led to obtaining [Dmt1, (R)-Nip2]EM-2 which showed exceptional MOR affinity and high stability against enzymatic degradation in rat brain homogenate. In in vivo hot-plate test in mice, this analog given intracerebroventicularly (i.c.v.), produced profound supraspinal analgesia, being much more potent than EM-2. The antinociceptive effect of this analog lasted about 170min and was almost completely reversed by β-funaltrexamine (β-FNA), a selective MOR antagonist. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We have examined global chemical shift perturbations for aP2 ligand complexes and compared these with amide temperature coefficients. Hydrogen bond potential was monitored by amide chemical shift’s temperature coefficient. Based on this information, we propose that the binding energy contribution can be spread out to multiple distant residues. For aP2, the ability of the receptor protein to change its hydrogen bond interactions in the β-strands to accommodate different ligand scaffolds seems to make this receptor difficult for structure based drug design. While stabilization energy differential on hydrogen bonds is likely to be small for individual residues, the accumulative effect on multiple hydrogen bonds may have a dramatic impact on ligand affinity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper, we describe the synthesis of a series of endomorphin-2 analogs containing N-methylated amino acids, consecutively in each position. The μ-opioid receptor binding affinities of the new analogs were determined in the displacement experiments. Their in vivo antinociceptive activity was assessed in the hot-plate test in mice after central (icv) and peripheral (ip) administration. [Sar2]endomorphin-2, which had the highest μ-receptor affinity, also showed the strongest analgesic effect when administered centrally and was the only analog that retained activity after peripheral injection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: For seventeen 1,4-benzothiazine potassium channel openers, we performed binding studies in rat aortic smooth muscle cells and cardiomyocytes, compared their binding affinities with published relaxation data, and derived 3D-QSAR models using GRIND/ALMOND descriptors. Binding affinities in smooth muscle cells range from a pK D of 4.76 for compound 3e to 9.10 for compound 4c. Comparison of data for smooth muscle relaxation and binding shows preferentially higher pEC50s for the former. In cardiomyocytes, pK D values range from 4.21 for 3e to 8.16 for 4c. 3D-QSAR analysis resulted in PLS models of two latent variables for all three activities with determination coefficients of 0.97 (smooth muscle relaxation) and 0.94 (smooth muscle cells- and cardiomyocytes-binding). Internal validation yielded q 2 values of 0.69, 0.66, and 0.64. The carbonyl on the N-4 substituent, the hydrogen bond acceptor at C-6, the five-membered ring at N-4, and the gem-dimethyls mainly guide strong binding and strong smooth muscle relaxation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]