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A series of 2-aralkyl-4H-pyridothiadiazine 1,1-dioxides and 3-aralkylamino-2-aryl-2H-pyrido[4,3-e]-1,2,4-thiadiazine 1,1-dioxides structurally related to quinazolinone CCK receptor antagonists were synthesized and evaluated as CCK-A and CCK-B receptor ligands. The compounds were effective as cholecystokinin-ligands in the micromolar range of concentration, c.f. the cholecystokinin receptor antagonists asperlicin, lorglumide or benzotript, and were thus less potent than the best quinazolinones previously reported. Although the compounds were unsuitable for drug use, the work contributed to our understanding of the chemistry of unusual 2,3-disubstituted pyridothiadiazinedioxides.

A novel hybrid series of nonpeptide CCK-B receptor antagonists has been designed from two known series derived from asperlicin. An efficient synthesis of 2-aminoquinazolinone, an intermediate for the synthesis of a targeted analog, has been developed.

The Val353 residue of the rat cholecystokinin-B (CCK-B) receptor was mutated to Leu to test whether this residue is part of a binding site for antagonists having different chemical structures. The agonist radioligand [3H]SNF 8702 showed similar affinity for both wild-type and mutant receptors. Mutation of the CCK-B receptor reversed the order of affinities for the asperlicin derivatives from L-365,260 > devazepide (wild-type) to devazepide > L-365,260 (mutant) but had no effect on the affinity of the peptoid CCK-B receptor antagonist Cam-1028. The results show that Val353 is not part of a general CCK-B receptor antagonist recognition site and that Cam-1028 is recognized at a receptor site distinct from that binding asperlicin derivatives.

Isolated gastric glands from rabbit were used to characterize the functional cholecystokinin (CCK)-like peptide receptors that mediate pepsinogen secretion. Pepsinogen secretion was stimulated by both CCK octapeptide sulfate (CCK-8) and A-71378, a selective CCK-A-type receptor agonist, with similar mean effective doses (1.0 and 0.8 nM, respectively). Compared with CCK-8, gastrin-17 (G-17-I) showed reduced potency and only partial efficacy for stimulation of pepsinogen secretion while inhibiting the maximal CCK-8-stimulated response. The nonpeptide inhibitors, asperlicin and L-364,718, inhibited pepsinogen secretion with identical pA2 values for antagonism of both CCK and gastrin, indicating that both peptides interact with the same functional receptor. Specific binding of [3H]CCK-8 to isolated chief cell membranes was displaced fully by both CCK and gastrin, indicating full receptor occupancy by both peptides. A novel synthetic peptide analogue, pseudogastrin [(Glu)5-Ala-Tyr-Nle-Gly-Trp-Nle-Asp-Phe-NH2], was used to investigate the structural basis for the lower potency and efficacy of G-17-I. The potency of CCK and gastrin analogues for pepsinogen secretion was found to be dependent on both sulfation of a tyrosine residue and the position of the tyrosine residue relative to the COOH-terminal phenylalanine amide. The efficacy appears to be determined partially by the extended NH2-terminal sequence of G-17-I. The results of the present study are interpreted to show that pepsinogen secretion is mediated by a CCK-A-type receptor and gastrin acts at the same receptor as a partial agonist.

Peptide receptors represent important targets for a variety of potentially important disease modifying drugs. Over the past 20 years, considerable effort has been spent on modifying the natural ligands for peptide receptors, the peptides themselves, with limited success. Using a targeted screen, namely cholecystokinin (CCK)-A receptor binding, the Merck group in 1984 discovered asperlicin, a potent non-peptide cholecystokinin antagonist selective for peripheral tissues, that was isolated from Aspergillus alliaceaus. This compound was used as a lead to develop MK-329, a CCK-A receptor antagonist, the evolution of which is discussed within the context of the drug discovery process and receptor modeling strategies. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

A novel hybrid series of nonpeptide CCK-B receptor antagonists has been designed from two known series derived from asperlicin. An efficient synthesis of 2-aminoquinazolinone, an intermediate for the synthesis of a targeted analog, has been developed.

We have described previously an innovative bond disconnection strategy of asperlicin, a naturally occurring CCK receptor antagonist, leading to anthranilic acid dimer and tryptophan synthons. We have also demonstrated that when the tryptophan residue is connected to the C- or N-terminal sides of the anthranilic acid dimer, compounds with similar micromolar CCK-A receptor affinities are obtained. In order to investigate the binding effects of different N-terminal substitution, in this paper we describe a new series of anthranilic acid dimer derivatives, characterized by the presence of the tryptophan residue in the C-terminus of the dimer. Among the compounds synthesized, the N-1H-indol-3-propionyl derivative exhibited an improved, at the micromolar range, affinity for the CCK-A receptor in comparison to that of either, the N-unsubstituted derivative and asperlicin. The lead compound emerging from this key step of our investigation represents the new starting point for the development of a new class of CCK-A receptor ligands.

A series of new N-substituted anthranilic acid dimer derivatives having a C-terminal Phe residue was synthesized and evaluated for their affinity for CCK receptors. These compounds resulted from a blended approach based firstly on the use of an alternative substructure embedded within asperlicin and secondly on the derivatization of this template with substituents chosen considering the C-terminal primary structure of the endogenous ligand. Although these compounds exhibited a regnylogical-type organization similar to that of CCK-4, they are characterized by about 1000-fold greater affinity for CCK-A receptor than the C-terminal tetrapeptide.

A series of new N-substituted anthranilic acid dimer derivatives having a C-terminal Phe residue was synthesized and evaluated for their affinity for CCK receptors. These compounds resulted from a blended approach based firstly on the use of an alternative substructure embedded within asperlicin and secondly on the derivatization of this template with substituents chosen considering the C-terminal primary structure of the endogenous ligand. Although these compounds exhibited a regnylogical-type organization similar to that of CCK-4, they are characterized by about 1000-fold greater affinity for CCK-A receptor than the C-terminal tetrapeptide.

A series of C-terminal anthranoyl-anthranilic acid derivatives arising from a strict bond disconnection approach of asperlicin were synthesized and examined for their CCK receptor affinities. These compounds represent the second step of our investigation directed toward the search for alternative substructures of asperlicin as a starting point for the development of a new class of CCK ligands. The obtained micromolar affinities for CCK-A rather than CCK-B receptor confirm that the anthranilic acid dimer represents a useful template for the development of selective CCK-A receptor ligands.

The synthesis of 3-aralkyl-4-aryl-4H-, 3-aralkylamino-4-aryl-4H- and 3-aralkylsulfanyl-4-aryl-4H-pyrido[4,3-e]-1,2,4-thiadiazine 1, 1-dioxides is described. Moreover, the affinity of the different compounds towards the cholecystokinin CCK-A and CCK-B receptors was evaluated. For selected compounds, affinity on the two receptor subtypes was expressed in the micromolar range. This was comparable to the affinity observed with the naturally occurring CCK receptor antagonist asperlicin.

A large interest is devoted today to endogenous peptides that possess specific binding sites associated with some physiological properties. The first challenge for medicinal chemists is to design and synthesize potent and specific ligands of these receptors. Most of the successes are generally achieved through systematic screening of synthetic collections of chemicals originated from natural sources 1 (asperlicin as CCK antagonist), or synthetic compounds from combinatorial chemistry. However rational design starting from the natural peptidic ligand may help to design a first lead compound that presents at least a μM range IC50 value.

To compare receptors for cholecystokinin (CCK) in pancreas and gallbladder, we measured binding of 125I-Bolton-Hunter-labeled CCK-8 (125I-BH-CCK-8) to tissue sections from guinea pig gallbladder and pancreas under identical conditions. In both tissues, binding had similar time-, temperature-, and pH dependence, was reversible, saturable and inhibited only by CCK related peptides or CCK receptor antagonists. Autoradiography localized 125I-BH-CCK-8 binding to the smooth muscle layer in the gallbladder. Binding of 125I-BH-CCK-8 to gallbladder sections was inhibited by various agonists with the following potencies (IC50):CCK-8 (0.4 nM) greater than des(SO3)CCK-8 (0.07 microM) greater than gastrin-17-I (1.7 +/- 0.3 microM) and by various receptor antagonists with the following potencies: L364,718 (1.5 nM) greater than CR 1409 (0.19 microM) greater than asperlicin = CBZ-CCK-(27-32)-NH2 (1 microM) greater than Bt2cGMP (120 microM). Similar potencies were found for the agonists and antagonists for pancreas sections. Inhibition of binding of 125I-BH-CCK-8 by 11 different analogues of proglumide gave similar potencies for both pancreas and gallbladder. The potencies of agonists in stimulating and antagonists in inhibiting CCK-stimulated contraction or amylase release correlated closely with their abilities to inhibit 125I-BH-CCK-8 binding to gallbladder or pancreas sections or acini, respectively. The present results demonstrate and characterize a method that can be used to compare the CCK receptors in guinea pig gallbladder and pancreas under identical conditions. Moreover, this study demonstrates that gallbladder and pancreatic CCK receptors have similar affinities for the various agonists and antagonists tested and, therefore, provides no evidence that they represent different subtypes of CCK receptors that can be distinguished pharmacologically.

Recent studies have demonstrated gastrin receptors in some pancreatic tumors and that gastrin is a potent stimulant of pancreatic Na+-H+ exchange. In the present study we used 125I-labeled gastrin (125I-gastrin) to characterize gastrin receptors on guinea pig pancreatic acini. Binding of 125I-gastrin was temperature dependent, saturable, and specific for gastrin-related peptides. Analysis demonstrated a single class of receptors with high affinity for gastrin (Kd = 1.5 nM) and a binding capacity of 1 fmol/mg protein. Binding of 125I-gastrin was inhibited with the following relative potencies (Kd): cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) (0.35 nM) greater than gastrin-17-I = gastrin-34-I (1.5 nM) greater than pentagastrin (7 nM) greater than desulfated [des(SO3)]CCK-8 (28 nM) greater than CCK-4 (508 nM) and by the receptor antagonists CBZ-CCK-27-32-NH2 (3.5 microM) greater than proglumide analogue 10 (30 microM) greater than asperlicin (265 microM) greater than Bt2-guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (828 micron). In contrast, for both stimulation of enzyme secretion and inhibition of binding of 125I-CCK-8 the relative potencies were CCK-8 much greater than des(SO3)CCK-8 greater than gastrin-17-I = gastrin-34-I greater than pentagastrin greater than CCK-4. For each receptor antagonist the dose-inhibition curve for gastrin-stimulated amylase release was superimpossible with that for CCK-8-stimulated amylase release. Gastrin-17-I at concentrations less than 0.1 microM did not potentiate carbachol or vasoactive intestinal peptide-stimulated amylase secretion and did not affect basal or stimulated adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate or 45Ca outflux.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Seventeen analogues of the selective, competitive cholecystokinin (CCK) antagonist asperlicin 1 were prepared. These compounds were tested as inhibitors of the binding of [125I]CCK to rat pancreas and guinea pig brain receptors. Compounds 4, 7, and 8 were more potent than asperlicin on the pancreatic CCK receptor. One analogue, 17, displayed potency equivalent to asperlicin on the pancreas CCK receptor and showed a marked improvement in aqueous solubility, thereby facilitating the use of this class of CCK antagonists in physiological and pharmacological studies.

We examined the effect of L364718, a new cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor antagonist, on amylase release stimulated by CCK or different secretagogues in isolated rat pancreatic acini. L364718 caused a parallel rightward shift of the dose-response curve of CCK8. Schild plots showed a slope of 1.05 +/- 0.15 and a pA2 value of 10.01 +/- 0.31. L364718 inhibited maximally stimulated amylase release by CCK in a dose-dependent manner, with half maximal inhibition (ID50) at 1.7 nM and complete inhibition at 30 nM. Asperlicin, a prototype compound of L364718, also caused dose-dependent inhibition, but L364718 was approximately 400 times more potent than asperlicin (ID50 = 761 nM). L364718 significantly inhibited amylase release in response to CCK33 and CCK8 but had no effect on amylase release stimulated by other receptor secretagogues or agents by passing receptors. The results indicate that L364718 acts as an extremely potent, competitive, and specific antagonist of CCK's action on pancreatic acini.

Recent studies have demonstrated that cholecystokinin (CCK) receptors are heterologous in peripheral tissues and in the central nervous system and that CCK-gastrin (CCK-G) peptides are potent trophic factors for the gastrointestinal tract. In the present study we used 125I-labeled gastrin and 125I-labeled CCK to demonstrate the heterogeneity of CCK receptors on a rat pancreatic acinar cell line (AR4-2J) and analyze the role of these receptors in increasing the activity of ornithine decarboxylase. Pharmacological analysis of radioligand binding fit well with the presence of two different receptors: 1) a CCK-selective receptor having the characteristics of the CCK receptor present on normal pancreatic cells and 2) a high-affinity, low-selectivity CCK-G binding site that interacts with all CCK-G peptides sulfated and nonsulfated. CCK-G peptides stimulate ornithine decarboxylase activity with the following order of potencies (EC50): G-(2-17)-ds (0.1 nM) greater than or equal to CCK-9 (0.25 nM) greater than or equal to pentagastrin (0.4 nM) greater than CCK-4 (6 nM). This stimulation was not inhibited by CCK antagonist (asperlicin) at a concentration range that blocks the CCK receptor but does not compete with 125I-labeled gastrin binding to the CCK-G receptor. These results, obtained with CCK-G agonists and antagonists, demonstrate that ornithine decarboxylase stimulation in these cells is mediated via the CCK-G receptor.

Seventeen analogues of the selective, competitive cholecystokinin (CCK) antagonist asperlicin 1 were prepared. These compounds were tested as inhibitors of the binding of [125I]CCK to rat pancreas and guinea pig brain receptors. Compounds 4, 7, and 8 were more potent than asperlicin on the pancreatic CCK receptor. One analogue, 17, displayed potency equivalent to asperlicin on the pancreas CCK receptor and showed a marked improvement in aqueous solubility, thereby facilitating the use of this class of CCK antagonists in physiological and pharmacological studies.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the recent advances in various strategies available for the discovery of non-peptide ligands, such as peptide mimetics, for peptide receptors and peptidases. Empirical approaches to the discovery of peptide ligands have involved the screening of pure compounds and complex mixtures in biological assays. The screening of pure entities has generally afforded little reported success, with the exception of ligands, for the promiscuous μ-opioid receptor. The discovery of receptor ligands has proved to be more elusive. Apart from the report of a structurally uncharacterized bradykinin antagonist from Mandevilla relutina, the discovery of the CCK antagonist asperlicin remains as the single significant success. Several new applications of conformationally restricted amino acids have been described in this chapter. Analogues containing amide bond surrogates have frequently been utilized to investigate the aspects of peptide structure and function. Recently, several improved syntheses of (E)-alkene peptide mimetics have appeared, in which good stereochemical control of appropriate peptidic side chains was achieved. The design, synthesis, and pharmacology of novel dipeptide mimetics have recently been described. In all the preceding, dipeptide mimics seek to duplicate the configuration of the trans-amide bond. An intriguing challenge of peptide mimetic design is the discovery of structures that can model the 3-dimensional orientation of amino acid residues into the known secondary conformations of proteins: turns, helices, and sheets. The design of β-sheet and α-helix mimetics has also been discussed in the chapter. The goal of peptide mimicry is the discovery of structural leads or the development of strategies for molecular design that result in bioavailable peptide analogues. Although it may not be necessary to remove all peptide-like character to ach eve this objective, reduction of the molecular weight and resistance to peptidase action is required.