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The thrombin receptor-tethered ligand SFLLRNP (abbreviation formed by one letter amino acid codes expressing Ser-Phe-Leu-Leu-Arg-Asn-Pro) consists of the Phe-2 residue essential for the receptor activation. In order to explore the molecular characteristics of this Phe-2-phenyl, a series of trifluorophenylalanines [(F3)Phe] was incorporated into this S/Phe/LLRNP for evaluation of their ability to induce the human platelet aggregation. A complete set of (F3)Phe in the L-configuration, namely, (2,3,4-F3)Phe, (2,3,5-F3)Phe, (2,3,6-F3)Phe, (2,4,5-F3)Phe, (2,4,6-F3)Phe, and (3,4,5-F3)Phe, was prepared from trifluorobenzyl bromides and diethyl acetamidomalonate. S/(2,3,4-F3)Phe/LLRNP was equipotent to S/Phe/LLRNP, while (2,4,5-F3)Phe-containing analog was almost twice as potent as those. (2,4,6-F3)Phe-analog exhibited about a half of the activity of S/Phe/LLRNP. (3,4,5-F3)Phe-, (2,3,5-F3)Phe-, and (2,3,6-F3)Phe-analogs were very weak. The analysis of these assay results suggested that Phe-2-phenyl of SFLLRNP is ...

Nociceptin is a neuropeptide that binds to and activates the opioid receptor-like ORL1 receptor. In order to explore the structural elements necessary for receptor recognition and activation, we designed and synthesized a series of nociceptin analogues, in which nonpolar amino acid residues such as Gly6, Ala7, Ala11, Leu14, and Ala15were substituted respectively by Trp. [Trp6]- and [Trp7]nociceptins exhibited rather weak activities (5—15% of nociceptin), and [Trp11]- and [Trp15]nociceptins also showed reduced activities (40—50%). These results suggested that the space available for these particular residues are relatively restricted. By contrast, the Trp/Leu-substitution at position 14 retained full receptor binding activity, and the resulting [Trp14]nociceptin exhibited an increased biological activity in the functional assay using [35S]GTPγS. This suggested that the receptor residue interacting with nociceptin-Leu14 is the aromatic amino acid.

A synthetic peptide, H–Ser–Phe–Leu–Leu–Arg–Asn–Pro–NH2, which corresponds to a ligand peptide tethered to a human thrombin receptor, was able to activate the thrombin receptor with no thrombin. In order to inspect the structural requisites of two consecutive leucines (Leu-3 and Leu-4) in receptor activation, two sets of analogs with substitutions at either position 3 or 4 were synthesized and evaluated for their ability to hydrolyze phosphoinositide in human neuroblastoma SH-EP cells. The replacement of Leu-4 by Ala drastically decreased the activity of the parent peptide (only about 4% activity), while that of Leu-3 retained about 50% activity. A similar result was obtained when replaced by Gly. Substitution by Phe for Leu-3 sustained full activity. Although the Leu-4/Phe substitution exhibited a slight reduction in activity, Leu-4/Ile substitution unexpectedly diminished the activity (20%). These results suggested that two consecutive leucines have different roles in receptor activation; i.e., Leu-3 beh...

In order to inspect the structural elements of Ser-1 in receptor activation by SFLLRNP (one-letter amino acid code), a ligand peptide tethered to the thrombin receptor, a series of analogs with such replacements as D-Ser, Ala, Thr, and Ac-Ser have been synthesized. These analogs were evaluated for their ability to hydrolyze the phosphoinositide in human neuroblastoma SH-EP cells. It was found that the α-amino group and L-configuration of Ser-1 are very important in the activation of receptors. N-Acetylation or deletion of Ser-1 completely eliminated the activity of SFLLRNP (a half-maximal effective concentration, EC50 = 0.89 μM (1 M = 1 mol dm−3)), and these modifications induced no antagonist activity. Incorporation of D-Ser also drastically diminished the activity, but retained about 50% activity of the maximal response by 100 μM SFLLRNP. The Ser/Ala substitution sustained 30% of the activity of SFLLRNP to elicit a full stimulation. The Ser/Thr substitution, however, enhanced the activity (20%) in spite...