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We present evidence that members of the corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) family assume distinct structures when interacting with the CRF(1) and CRF(2) receptors. Predictive methods, physicochemical measurements, and structure-activity relationship studies have suggested that CRF, its family members, and competitive antagonists such as astressin [cyclo(30-33)[DPhe(12),Nle(21),Glu(30),Lys(33),Nle(38)]hCRF((12-41))] assume an alpha-helical conformation when interacting with their receptors. We had shown that alpha-helical CRF((9-41)) and sauvagine showed some selectivity for CRF receptors other than that responsible for ACTH secretion(1) and later for CRF2.(2) More recently, we suggested the possibility of a helix-turn-helix motif around a turn encompassing residues 30-33(3) that would confer high affinity for both CRF(1) and CRF(2)(2,4) in agonists and antagonists of all members of the CRF family.(3) On the other hand, the substitutions that conferred ca. 100-fold CRF(2) selectivity to the antagonist antisauvagine-30 [[DPhe(11),His(12)]sauvagine((11-40))] did not confer such property to the corresponding N-terminally extended agonists. We find here that a Glu(32)-Lys(35) side chain to side chain covalent lactam constraint in hCRF and the corresponding Glu(31)-Lys(34) side chain to side chain covalent lactam constraint in sauvagine yield potent ligands that are selective for CRF(2). Additionally, we introduced deletions and substitutions known to increase duration of action to yield antagonists such as cyclo(31-34)[DPhe(11),His(12),C(alpha)MeLeu(13,39),Nle(17),Glu(31),Lys(34)]Ac-sauvagine((8-40)) (astressin(2)-B) with CRF(2) selectivities greater than 100-fold. CRF receptor autoradiography was performed in rat tissue known to express CRF(2) and CRF(1) in order to confirm that astressin(2)-B could indeed bind to established CRF(2) but not CRF(1) receptor-expressing tissues. Extended duration of action of astressin(2)-B vs that of antisauvagine-30 is demonstrated in the CRF(2)-mediated animal model whereby the inhibition of gastric emptying of a solid meal in mice by urocortin administered intraperitoneally at time zero is antagonized by the administration of astressin(2)-B but not by antisauvagine-30 at times -3 and -6 h while both peptides are effective when given 10 min before urocortin.

We report the electrospray mass spectra and tandem mass (MS/MS) spectra of a series of chemically-stable somatostatin (SRIF) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogs which incorporate acylated or alkylated/acylated aminoglycine residues (betidamino acids) into their structure . In the case of SRIF, we compare the betidamino acid-containing analogs with the equivalent peptide without the betide-type linkage. We observe significant differences in the fragmentation patterns of each class of compound. We extend this study by comparing a variety of different betidamino acid-containing GnRH analogs to investigate the effects of different acyl groups, chirality and methylation of the side-chain nitrogen of amino glycine on the gas-phase stability of these protonated peptide molecules.

In three earlier papers, the structures and biological potencies of numerous mono- and dicyclic antagonists of GnRH were reported. Among these, two families, each containing two to four members were identified that had very high antagonist potencies in an antiovulatory assay (within a factor of 2 of those of the most potent linear analogues) and high affinities (K(i) 20-fold) was observed with the substitution of [DAsp(3)] in 14 by [DGlu(3)] in 15 (K(i) = 23 nM). Dicyclic analogues possessing the (4-10) cycle and selected (1-6), (2-6), and (2-8) cycles led to analogues that were inactive at doses of 500 microgram/rat or larger. Two analogues with (1-8/4-10) cycles (16, K(i) = 1.1 nM) or (3-8/4-10) cycles (22, K(i) = 17 nM) showed full antiovulatory potency at 250 microgram/rat. None of these substitutions yielded analogues potent enough (>80% inhibition of ovulation at 5 microgram/rat or less and K(i) < 0.5 nM) to be candidates for structural analysis by NMR. On the other hand, four dicyclic (1, 1'-5/4-10) analogues met this criterion: dicyclo(1, 1'-5/4-10)[Ac-Asp(1)(Gly),DCpa(2),DTrp(3),Asp(4),Dbu(5 ), DNal(6), Dpr(10)]GnRH (32, K(i) = 0.22 nM), dicyclo(1, 1'-5/4-10)[Ac-Asp(1)(Gly),DCpa(2),DNal(3),Asp(4),Dbu(5 ), DNal(6), Dpr(10)]GnRH (34, K(i) = 0.38 nM), dicyclo(1, 1'-5/4-10)[Ac-Asp(1)(betaAla),DCpa(2), DTrp(3),Asp(4),Dbu(5),DNal(6), Dpr(10)]GnRH (40, K(i) = 0.15 nM), and dicyclo(1, 1'-5/4-10)[Ac-Glu(1)(Gly), DCpa(2),DTrp(3),Asp(4),Dbu(5),DNal(6), Dpr(10)]GnRH (41, K(i) = 0.24 nM). Since they differed slightly in terms of the (1,1'-5) bridge length (21 and 22 atoms) and bridgehead configuration, we may hypothesize that they assume similar bioactive conformations that satisfy a very discriminating receptor, since many other closely related analogues were significantly less potent.

In an earlier report we identified specific modifications and substitutions of corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) that led to the discovery of antagonists with extended duration of action as compared to that of astressin {cyclo(30-33)[DPhe(12),Nle(21),Glu(30), Lys(33),Nle(38)]hCRF((12)(-)(41))}. These additional modifications included elongation of the peptide chain by three residues at the N-terminus, its acetylation, and the [CalphaMeLeu(27)] substitution to yield cyclo(30-33)[DPhe(12), Nle(21),CalphaMeLeu(27),Glu(30), Lys(33),Nle(38)]Ac-hCRF((9)(-)(41)), which was found to be longer acting than astressin (Rivier, J.; et al. J. Med. Chem. 1998, 41, 5012-5019). To further increase the efficiency (potency, duration of action, and bioavailability) of this family of antagonists, we introduced two or more CalphaMe-leucine residues at positions shown in earlier studies to be favorable (Hernandez, J.-F.; et al. J. Med. Chem. 1993, 36, 2860-2867). Whereas the introduction of CalphaMe-leucine residues at positions 27 and either 18 (11), 37 (17), or 40 (19) resulted in dramatic increases in duration of inhibitory action in the adrenalectomized (adx) rat after intravenous injection, the same substitution at positions 27 and either 15 (7, 8), 17 (9), 19 (12, 13), or 41 (20) led to short acting analogues. Other substitutions by CalphaMeLeu at positions 27 and either 10 (4), 13 (5), 14 (6), 21 (14), 24 (15), 36 (16), or 38 (18) yielded analogues with duration of action intermediate between those mentioned above. Cyclo(30-33)[DPhe(12), Nle(21), CalphaMeLeu(27),Glu(30),Lys(33),Nle(38), CalphaMeLeu(40)]Ac-hCRF((9)(-)(41)) (astressin B, 19) was one of the most efficacious analogues of this series (4 h inhibition of ACTH secretion at 25 microgram/adx rat). It was found to be even longer acting via subcutaneous administration in either an aqueous (24 h inhibition of ACTH secretion at 100 microgram/adx rat) or lipid milieu (DMSO/peanut oil,24 h inhibition of ACTH secretion at 30 microgram/adx rat) than after intravenous administration (12 h inhibition of ACTH secretion at 100 microgram/adx rat). We concluded that Calpha-methylation at some positions may favor a bioactive conformation while also preventing degradation and/or elimination, resulting in significant extension of duration of action.

The ability of MALDI-MS to analyze photolabile arylazido peptide derivatives was investigated. Peptides containing UV-labile p-azidobenzoyl groups were subjected to MALDI-MS analysis in a variety of matrices. As standard MALDI-MS employs a UV laser (337 nm), we investigated conditions that would allow detection of the intact molecule ions for these light-sensitive peptides. When using α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (ACHC) or 2,5 dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) as the matrix, photoinduced degradation products were prevalent. In contrast, when employing the matrix sinapinic acid, the intact molecule ion corresponding with the azido peptide was the predominant signal. The protection of photolabile azido derivatives correlates with the UV absorbance properties of the matrix employed, i.e., sinapinic acid, which exhibits a strong absorbance near 337 nm, most efficiently protects the azido derivative from photodegradation.

In the pursuit of potent analogues of neuropeptide Y (NPY) that are selective for the Y 1 receptor subtype, two lactam bridge scans of a centrally truncated parent compound were synthesized. A single lactam bridge (γ-carboxyl of Glu to ∈-amino of Lys) extending from residues i to i + 3 or i to i + 4 of the proposed α-helical region (residues 25-31 of NPY) was introduced in desAA 7-24 [Gly 6 ]NPY. Cyclogues (contraction of cyclic analogues), which were approximately one-half the size of native NPY, were initially screened for binding affinity at two discrete NPY receptor types using human neuroblastoma cell membranes, SK-N-MC and SK-N-BE2. Exploitation of the subtle differences present on each receptor type allowed for the identification of cyclogues which bound specifically to Y 1 receptors with increased affinity when compared to the corresponding linear parent analogue, while one short Y 1 specific cyclogue, des-AA 2,3,5,7-24 cyclo-(26/29)[Gly 6 ,Glu 26 ,Lys 29 ,Pro 34 ]NPY, bound with K i = 16 nM. Other cyclogues showed distinct preference for Y 2 receptors and bound in the low-nanomolar range. Functionally, the compounds inhibited the norepinephrine-stimulated accumulation of cAMP indicating that all acted as agonists with varying potencies.

In an effort to gain insight into the bioactive conformation of neuropeptide Y upon interaction with its receptors, all single-point D-amino acid substituted NPY analogues were prepared, and their Y1 and Y2 receptor binding affinities were evaluated using the human neuroblastoma cell lines, SK-N-MC and SK-N-BE2, respectively. Solid-phase synthesis (Boc strategy) followed by preparative HPLC purification produced analogues of high purity that were characterized by RP-HPLC, AAA, LSIMS, CZE, and optical rotation. Of the 37 isomers (a naturally occurring glycine at position 9 was replaced by Ala and D-Ala), Y1 receptor binding was most perturbed by chiral inversion of residues at the C-terminus (residues 20, 27, 29-35, Ki > or = 300 nM). Substitutions at residues 2-5, 28, and 36 had Ki values ranging from 40 to 260 nM. Substitutions at all other positions yielded analogues with affinities ranging from 1.5 to 20 nM. Binding affinities to the Y2 class of receptors all measured in the low or sub-nanomolar concentrations, with the exception of C-terminally modified isomers (residues 30-35). Only [D-Arg33]- and [D-Gln34]NPY displayed no measurable binding affinity to Y2 receptors at the highest concentration tested (1000 nM). Representative analogues were selected on the basis of their binding affinities and position in the sequence for structural analysis using circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Of the nine peptide evaluated ([D-Pro5]-, [Ala9]-, [D-Glu10]-, [D-Asp11]-, [D-Ala18]-, [D-Tyr20]-, [D-Tyr27]-, and [D-Arg33]NPY), only [D-Tyr27]NPY expressed a definitive correlation between loss of binding affinity and disruption of secondary structure by having the propensity to form beta-sheets at the expense of alpha-helical content. It was concluded that although the incorporation of a single D-amino acid within the sequence of NPY may confer a conformational perturbation, the receptor interaction was only affected when certain critical residues were modified, findings that provide a basis for the identification of the binding pharmacophore of NPY.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses large-scale synthesis of gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonists for clinical investigations. Once a new peptide has been discovered and its biological activities identified, a logical extension is to design analogs for the study and understanding of its structure–activity relationships and to identify molecules that are either more potent, longer acting, or competitive antagonists. Either an agonist or an antagonist of a given peptide may be examined as a potential candidate for the treatment of diseases arising from defects in the normal pathways that the native peptide governs. Such synthetic peptides and their analogs can be synthesized and purified in large-enough quantities for their successful and safe use in a clinical setting. The chapter discusses the development of two antagonists of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH): (1) Ac- d -2-Nal- d -Cpa- d -3-Pal-Ser-Arg- d -2-amino-5-oxo-5-(4-methoxyphenyl) pentanoic acid-Leu-Arg-Pro- d -Ala-NH 2 (Nal-Glu antagonist), which has already been tested extensively in humans; and (2) Ac- d -2-Nal- d -Cpa- d -3-Pal-Ser-Lys(atz)- d -Lys(atz)-Leu-ILys-Pro- d -Ala-NH 2 (Azaline), a member of the most recent generation of potent, water-soluble GnRH antagonists with little or no histamine-releasing activity.