VRQ397 (CRAVKY): a novel noncompetitive V2 receptor antagonist.

Vasopressin type 2 receptor (V2R) exhibits mostly important properties for hydroosmotic equilibrium and, to a lesser extent, on vasomotricity. Drugs currently acting on this receptor are analogs of the natural neuropeptide, arginine vasopressin (AVP), and hence are competitive ligands. Peptides that reproduce specific sequences of a given receptor have lately been reported to interfere with its action, and if such molecules arise from regions remote from the binding site they would be anticipated to exhibit noncompetitive antagonism, but this has yet to be shown for V2R. Six peptides reproducing juxtamembranous regions of V2R were designed and screened; the most effective peptide, cravky (labeled VRQ397), was characterized. VRQ397 was potent (IC(50) = 0.69 +/- 0.25 nM) and fully effective in inhibiting V2R-dependent physiological function, specifically desmopressin-L-desamino-8-arginine-vasopressin (DDAVP)-induced cremasteric vasorelaxation; this physiological functional assay was utilized to avoid overlooking interference of specific signaling events. A dose-response profile revealed a noncompetitive property of VRQ397; correspondingly, VRQ397 bound specifically to V2R-expressing cells could not displace its natural ligand, AVP, but modulated AVP binding kinetics (dissociation rate). Specificity of VRQ397 was further confirmed by its inability to bind to homologous V1 and oxytocin receptors and its inefficacy to alter responses to stimulation of these receptors. VRQ397 exhibited pharmacological permissiveness on V2R-induced signals, as it inhibited DDAVP-induced PGI(2) generation but not that of cAMP or recruitment of beta-arrestin2. Consistent with in vitro and ex vivo effects as a V2R antagonist, VRQ397 displayed anticipated in vivo aquaretic efficacy. We hereby describe the discovery of a first potent noncompetitive antagonist of V2R, which exhibits functional selectivity, in line with properties of a negative allosteric modulator.

Aza-scanning of the potent melanocortin receptor agonist Ac-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-NH.

The melanocortin pathway is an important participant in the regulation of skin pigmentation, steroidogenesis, obesity, energy homeostasis, and exocrine gland function. Melanocortin agonists contain the putative sequence 'His-Phe-Arg-Trp', which has been designated as the 'message' sequence for melanocortin peptides, and this sequence has been hypothesized to adopt a bioactive reverse turn conformation. Exploring the relationship between its structure and biological activity, we report the synthesis and evaluation of seven aza-analogs of the potent melanocortin receptor agonist Ac-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-NH2. Aza-amino acids, in which the alpha-carbon was replaced by nitrogen, were inserted along the peptide sequence to probe the importance of local configuration and turn conformation on the biology of this tetrapeptide. Although systematic substitution of aza-amino acids for the D-Phe and Arg residues led to a significant loss of activity relative to the parent peptide for all melanocortin receptor subtypes examined, substitution of aza-amino acids at the C-terminal Trp residue gave analogs equipotent to the parent peptide. In summary, the aza-scan has demonstrated that recognition of this tetrapeptide by the melanocortin receptors is particularly sensitive to modifications of configuration and conformation at the D-Phe and Arg residues versus the Trp amino acid. In light of aza-residues imparting resistance from enzymatic degradation, C-terminal aza-amino acid analogs may be used to design new peptide mimics with enhanced metabolic stability.

Amino acid-azetidine chimeras: synthesis of enantiopure 3-substituted azetidine-2-carboxylic acids.

Azetidine-2-carboxylic acid (Aze) analogs possessing various heteroatomic side chains at the 3-position have been synthesized by modification of 1-9-(9-phenylfluorenyl) (PhF)-3-allyl-Aze tert-butyl ester (2S,3S)-1. 3-Allyl-Aze 1 was synthesized by regioselective allylation of alpha-tert-butyl beta-methyl N-(PhF)aspartate 13, followed by selective omega-carboxylate reduction, tosylation, and intramolecular N-alkylation. Removal of the PhF group and olefin reduction by hydrogenation followed by Fmoc protection produced nor-leucine-Aze chimera 2. Regioselective olefin hydroboration of (2S,3S)-1 produced primary alcohol 23, which was protected as a silyl ether, hydrogenated and N-protected to give 1-Fmoc-3-hydroxypropyl-Aze 26. Enantiopure (2S,3S)-3-(3-azidopropyl)-1-Fmoc-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester 3 was prepared as a Lys-Aze chimera by activation of 3-hydroxypropyl-Aze 26 as a methanesulfonate and displacement with sodium azide. Moreover, orthogonally protected azetidine dicarboxylic acid 4 was synthesized as an alpha-aminoadipate-Aze chimera by oxidation of alcohol 26. These orthogonally protected amino acid-Aze chimeras are designed to serve as tools for studying the influence of conformation on peptide activity.

Exploring relationships between mimic configuration, peptide conformation and biological activity in indolizidin-2-one amino acid analogs of gramicidin S.

Indolizidin-2-one amino acids (I2aas, 6S- and 6R-1) possessing 6S- and 6R-ring-fusion stereochemistry were introduced into the antimicrobial peptide gramicidin S (GS) to explore the relationships between configuration, peptide conformation and biological activity. Solution-phase and solid-phase techniques were used to synthesize three analogs with I2aa residues in place of the d-Phe-Pro residues at the turn regions of GS: [(6S)-I2aa4-5,4'-5']GS (2), [Lys2,2',(6S)-I2aa4-5,4'-5']GS (3) and [(6R)-I2aa4-5,4'-5']GS (4). Although conformational analysis of [I2aa4-5,4'-5']GS analogs 2-4 indicated that both ring-fusion stereoisomers of I2aa gave peptides with CD and NMR spectral data characteristic of GS, the (6S)-I2aa analogs 2 and 3 exhibited more intense CD curve shapes, as well as greater numbers of nonsequential NOE between opposing Val and Leu residues, relative to the (6R)-I2aa analog 4, suggesting a greater propensity for the (6S)-diastereomer to adopt the beta-turn/antiparallel beta-pleated sheet conformation. In measurements of antibacterial and antifungal activity, the (6S)-I2aa analog 2 exhibited significantly better potency than the (6R)-I2aa diastereomer 4. Relative to GS, [(6S)-I2aa4-5,4'-5']GS (2) exhibited usually 1/2 to 1/4 antimicrobial activity as well as 1/4 hemolytic activity. In certain cases, antimicrobial and hemolytic activities of GS were shown to be dissociated through modification at the peptide turn regions with the (6S)-I2aa diastereomer. The synthesis and evaluation of GS analogs 2-4 has furnished new insight into the importance of ring-fusion stereochemistry for turn mimicry by indolizidin-2-one amino acids as well as novel antimicrobial peptides.

The influence of steric interactions on the conformation and biology of oxytocin. Synthesis and analysis of penicillamine(6)-oxytocin and penicillamine(6)-5-tert-butylproline(7)-oxytocin analogs.

Six [Pen(6)]oxytocin analogs were synthesized by substituting penicillamine for cysteine in oxytocin, [Mpa(1)]oxytocin, [dPen(1)]oxytocin, [5-t-BuPro(7)]oxytocin, [Mpa(1), 5-t-BuPro(7)]oxytocin and [dPen(1), 5-t-BuPro(7)]oxytocin. When tested in the uterotonic test in vitro [Pen(6)]oxytocin, [Pen(6), 5-t-BuPro(7)]oxytocin, [Mpa(1), Pen(6)]oxytocin and [Mpa(1), Pen(6), 5-t-BuPro(7)]oxytocin, all were found to possess both agonistic and antagonistic properties. Their agonistic potency ranged from negligible (0.08 IU/mg) to low (5.85 IU/mg) and their antagonistic potency (pA2) was estimated to range from 6.6 to 7.9. [dPen(1), Pen(6)]Oxytocin and [dPen(1), Pen(6), 5-t-BuPro(7)]oxytocin were found to be pure antagonists with similarly high pA2 values of approximately 8.2. Replacement of proline by 5-tert-butylproline increased binding affinity by a factor of two in [Pen(6)]oxytocin and had no influence on the binding affinity of [Mpa(1), Pen(6)]oxytocin and [dPen(1), Pen(6)]oxytocin. Assignment of the proton signals for prolyl amide cis- and trans-isomers by NMR experiments in water indicated that the Pen(6)-5-tert-BuPro(7) peptide bond cis-isomer population was augmented relative to the prolyl peptides and measured, respectively, at 20, 35 and 35% in the 5-tert-butylproline(7) analogs of [Pen(6)]oxytocin, [Mpa(1), Pen(6)]oxytocin and [dPen(1), Pen(6)]oxytocin. This augmentation in cis-isomer population was correlated with a 21-fold reduction in the agonistic potency and 2-fold augmentation in antagonistic potency for [Pen(6), 5-t-BuPro(7)]oxytocin relative to [Pen(6)]oxytocin. Augmentation of cis-isomer population was also correlated to reduced agonist potency without effect on antagonism on conversion of [Mpa(1), Pen(6)]oxytocin to [Mpa(1), Pen(6), 5-t-BuPro(7)]oxytocin. In the potent oxytocin antagonist, [dPen(1), Pen(6)]oxytocin, substitution of 5-tert-butylproline for proline augmented the cis-isomer population without affecting antagonistic potency. The synthesis and evaluation of [Pen(6)]oxytocin and [Pen(6), 5-t-BuPro(7)]oxytocin analogs 1-6 indicated that steric interactions influenced agonist and antagonist activity by modifying peptide conformation. Augmentations in the prolyl cis-isomer population caused by 5-tert-butylproline occurred concurrently with enhanced or maintained antagonistic potency and binding affinity and reduced agonistic potency.

N-(9-(9-phenylfluorenyl))homoserine-derived cyclic sulfamidates: novel chiral educts for the synthesis of enantiopure gamma-substituted alpha-amino acids.

(4S)-tert-Butyl 2,2-dioxo-3-PhF-1,2,3-oxathiazainane-4-carboxylate reacted effectively with nitrogen, sulfur, and oxygen nucleophiles to provide enantiopure (>97% ee) gamma-substituted alpha-amino acids. Reaction: see text.

Probing opioid receptor-ligand interactions by employment of indolizidin-9-one amino acid as a constrained Gly(2)-Gly(3) surrogate in a leucine-enkephalin mimic.

The relationship between the conformation and biological activity of Leu-enkephalin was studied using (2S,6R,8S)-9-oxo-8-N-(Boc)amino-1-azabicyclo[4.3.0]nonane-2-carboxylic acid [(2S,6R,8S)-1, I(9)AA] as a constrained Gly(2)-Gly(3) dipeptide surrogate. [I(9)AA](2,3)-Leu-enkephalin 12 was assembled using solid-phase peptide synthesis on Merrifield resin with TBTU as the coupling reagent. The in vitro assays indicated that [I(9)AA](2,3)-Leu-enkephalin 12 exhibited affinities for the mu- and delta-opioid receptors that were three orders of magnitude lower than that of Leu-enkephalin, as well as partial agonist character for both receptors. In in vivo assays for spinal analgesia, the indolizidinone analog 12 showed significantly enhanced duration of action, indicating an increased metabolic stability. Conformational analysis was performed using NMR and CD spectroscopy. The amide temperature coefficients and 3J(NH-CalphaH) coupling constants for 12 could not support a hydrogen-bonded beta-turn structure; however, its CD spectrum indicated a turn conformation. Incorporation of indolizidinone amino acid 1 into Leu-enkephalin thus provided additional support for the importance of a turn conformation for the biological activity of the native peptide.

Mimicry of peptide backbone geometry and heteroatomic side-chain functionality: synthesis of enantiopure indolizidin-2-one amino acids possessing alcohol, acid, and azide functional groups.

Indolizidinone amino acids possessing various heteroatomic side chains at their 5- and 7-positions have been synthesized through modification of hydroxymethyl indolizidinone amino acids 5 and 6. Displacements of the methanesulfonates from alcohols 5 and 6 with sodium azide, as well as oxidation of alcohol 5, have been used to furnish orthogonally protected indolizidin-2-one diamino carboxylates 7 and 8, and indolizidin-2-one amino dicarboxylate 9. Both 5- and 7-hydroxymethylindolizidinone amino acids 5 and 6 were obtained from sequences commencing with the Claisen condensation of alpha-tert-butyl gamma-methyl l-N-(PhF)-L-glutamate to furnish di-tert-butyl 4-carbomethoxy-5-oxo-2,8-di-[N-(PhF)amino]azelate 10 (PhF = 9-(9-phenylfluorenyl)). Subsequent hydride reduction of 10 to an isomeric mixture of diols 12, selective protection of the primary alcohol as tert-butyldimethylsilyl ether 14 and oxidation of the secondary alcohol gave di-tert-butyl 4-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxymethyl-5-oxo-2,8-di-[N-(PhF)amino]azelate 15 as a separable diastereomeric mixture. Linear ketone 15 and alcohol 14 were then converted to the indolizidinone heterocycles by routes featuring reductive aminations, methanesulfonate displacements, and lactam cyclizations. A series of rigid scaffolds designed to mimic the conformations of dipeptides possessing serine, lysine, and glutamate residues has thus been synthesized by this new route for installing heteroatomic side-chain functional groups onto the indolizidin-2-one system.

Synthesis of enantiopure 7-[3-azidopyl]indolizidin-2-one amino acid. A constrained mimic of the peptide backbone geometry and heteroatomic side-chain functionality of the ala-lys dipeptide.

Enantiopure N-(BOC)amino-7-[3-azidopropyl]indolizidin-2-one acid 1 has been synthesized by displacement of the methanesulfonate of its 7-hydroxypropyl counterpart 11 with sodium azide and subsequent ester hydrolysis. N-(BOC)Amino-7-[3-hydroxypropyl]indolizidin-2-one ester 11 was obtained from a sequence commencing with the alkylation of (2S,8S)-di-tert-butyl 5-oxo-2,8-di-[N-(PhF)amino]azelate 5 (PhF = 9-(9-phenylfluorenyl)). Stereoselective allylation of 5, regioselective olefin hydroboration, selective primary alcohol protection as a silyl ether, and oxidation of the secondary alcohol gave (2S,4R,8S)-di-tert-butyl 4-[3-tert-butyldimethylsiloxypropyl]-5-oxo-2,8-di-[N-(PhF)amino]azelate 9 as a pure diastereomer in 33% overall yield. Linear ketone 9 was then converted into the indolizidinone heterocycle by a route featuring reductive amination, lactam cyclization, and isolation by way of a silyl ether which provided the (6S,7R)-isomer of 11.

Influence of N-terminal residue stereochemistry on the prolyl amide geometry and the conformation of 5-tert-butylproline type VI beta-turn mimics.

The effects of N-terminal amino acid stereochemistry on prolyl amide geometry and peptide turn conformation were investigated by coupling both L- and D-amino acids to (2S, 5R)-5-tert-butylproline and L-proline to generate, respectively, N-(acetyl)dipeptide N'-methylamides 1 and 2. Prolyl amide cis- and trans-isomers were, respectively, favored for peptides 1 and 2 as observed by proton NMR spectroscopy in water, DMSO and chloroform. The influence of solvent composition on amide proton chemical shift indicated an intramolecular hydrogen bond between the N'-methylamide proton and the acetamide carbonyl for the major conformer of dipeptides (S)-1, that became less favorable in (R)-1 and 2. The coupling constant (3J(NH,alpha)) values for the cis-isomer of (R)-1 indicated a phi2 dihedral angle value characteristic of a type VIb beta-turn conformation in solution. X-ray crystallographic analysis of N-acetyl-D-leucyl-5-tert-butylproline N'-methylamide (R)-lb showed the prolyl residue in a type VIb beta-turn geometry possessing an amide cis-isomer and psi3-dihedral angle having a value of 157 degrees, which precluded an intramolecular hydrogen bond. Intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the leucyl residues of two turn structures within the unit cell positioned the N-terminal residue in a geometry where their phi2 and psi2 dihedral angle values were not characteristic of an ideal type VIb turn. The circular dichroism spectra of tert-butylprolyl peptides (S)- and (R)-1b were found not to be influenced by changes in solvent composition from water to acetonitrile. The type B spectrum exhibited by (S)-1b has been previously assigned to a type VIa beta-turn conformation [Halab L, Lubell WD. J. Org. Chem. 1999; 64: 3312-3321]. The type C spectrum exhibited by the (R)-lb has previously been associated with type II' beta-turn and alpha-helical conformations in solution and appears now to be also characteristic for a type VIb geometry.

Design, synthesis, and conformational analysis of azacycloalkane amino acids as conformationally constrained probes for mimicry of peptide secondary structures.

Conformationally constrained amino acid and dipeptide units can serve in mimics of specific secondary structures for studying relationships between peptide conformation and biological activity. A variety of mimics are required to study systematically the structure-activity relationships in biologically relevant peptides. We present our efforts on the design, synthesis, and conformational analysis of a series of rigid surrogates of amino acid and dipeptide units for application within constrained peptide analogues, and for employment as inputs for combinatorial science. Conceived to be general and versatile, our methodology has delivered a variety of azacycloalkane and azabicycloalkane amino acids in enantiomerically pure form, via practical methods, from readily available and inexpensive starting materials.

Racemization in the use of N-(9-(9-phenylfluorenyl))serine-derived cyclic sulfamidates in the synthesis of delta-keto alpha-amino carboxylates and prolines.

[reaction: see text]Ring opening of enantiopure N-(9-(9-phenylfluorenyl)serine-derived cyclic sulfamidates with beta-keto esters, beta-keto ketones, and dimethyl malonate gave a variety of gamma-substituted amino acid analogues in racemic form. Investigation of the mechanism for racemization revealed that beta-elimination occurred to form a dehydroalanine intermediate that underwent subsequent Michael addition.

Stereoconvergent approach for synthesizing enantiopure 5, 6-dialkylpipecolic acids.

Investigating a general route for synthesizing pipecolic acid ) piperidine-2-carboxylic acid ( derivatives with substituents at the 3-, 4-, 5- and 6-position, we discovered a stereoconvergent process that provides an effective means for making 5, 6-dialkyl-epsilonpipecolate (Scheme 1, PhF = 9-phenylfluoren-9-yl). Hydrogenation of diastereomeric mixtures of gamma-oxo gamma-hydroxy and gamma-acetoxy alpha-N-(PhF)amino tert-butyl esters causes the eventual loss of the gamma-substituent to furnish an azadiene intermediate that can reduce diastereoselectively to 5, 6-dialkylpipecolate having the all cis relative stereoconfiguration. Five enantiopure (>94% ee) 5,6-dialkylpipecolic acids were synthesized, employing aspartic acid as an inexpensive chiral educt in this process.

Rigid dipeptide surrogates: syntheses of enantiopure quinolizidinone and pyrroloazepinone amino acids from a common diaminodicarboxylate precursor.

A versatile and practical approach for synthesizing azabicyclo[X.Y.0]alkane amino acids of different ring sizes from a common diaminodicarboxylate precursor has been developed as a means for mimicking different peptide conformations. (2S,9S)-1-tert-Butyl 10-benzyl 5-oxo-2-[N-(PhF)amino] 9-[N-(BOC)amino]dec-4-enedioate (18) was first prepared in 83% yield by the Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination of N-(PhF)aspartate beta-aldehyde 8 with pyroglutamate-derived beta-keto phosphonate 12 (PhF = 9-phenylfluoren-9-yl). The practicality of this approach for making azabicyclo[X.Y.0]alkane amino acids was then illustrated by the first synthesis of enantiopure quinolizidin-2-one amino acid 6 in seven steps and 40% overall yield from L-pyroglutamic acid. Hydrogenation of delta-keto alpha,omega-diaminosebacate 18, followed by lactam cyclization and protection, gave quinolizidin-2-one amino acid 6 as a single diastereomer. The versatility of this approach was next demonstrated by the synthesis of both ring-fusion isomers of pyrroloazepin-2-one amino acid 6 in 11 steps and 13% overall yield from pyroglutamic acid. Hydride reduction of 18, followed by methanesulfonate displacement, gave 5-alkylproline 22. Protective group manipulations, lactam cyclization, and removal of the ester group afforded readily separable pyrroloazepinone amino acids (7S)- and (7R)-7 in a 1:2 diastereomeric ratio. By introducing two new azabicycloalkane amino acids using our olefination approach, we have expanded the diversity of these important heterocycles for studying the conformational requirements for peptide biological activity.

Synthesis and pharmacology of new enantiopure delta(3)-4-arylkainoids.

Seven delta(3)-4-arylkainoids possessing various 4-position aromatic and heteroaromatic groups were synthesized and their apparent affinities were measured in order to explore the influences of 4-position electron density and stereochemistry on receptor affinity and specificity. Kainoids 1a-f were shown to be selective agonists at the NMDA receptor and the electron rich furanyl and thienyl analogues exhibited the highest affinities. Naphthylkainoid 1g proved to be a nonselective antagonist at the iGluRs.

A study of the relationship between biological activity and prolyl amide isomer geometry in oxytocin using 5-tert-butylproline to augment the Cys(6)-Pro(7) amide cis-isomer population.

Three [5-t-BuPro(7)]oxytocin analogues were synthesized by substituting (2S,5R)-5-tert-butylproline for proline in oxytocin, [Mpa(1)]oxytocin, and [dPen(1)]oxytocin. Relative to oxytocin, [5-t-BuPro(7)]oxytocin and [Mpa(1),5-t-BuPro(7)]oxytocin exhibited strongly reduced binding affinity to the receptor; however, both peptides maintained the pharmacophore characteristics responsible for signal transfer evoking the same maximal response as oxytocin in the single-dose procedure and exhibiting partial agonistic activity in the cumulative dose-response procedure. Although [dPen(1)]oxytocin exhibited inhibitory as well as partial agonistic activity, [dPen(1),5-t-BuPro(7)]oxytocin exhibited only inhibitory potency with a similar in vitro pA(2) value of 7.50 in the absence of magnesium. In the presence of magnesium, [dPen(1), 5-t-BuPro(7)]oxytocin exhibited stronger inhibitory potency than [dPen(1)]oxytocin and no partial agonism. Assignment of the proton signals for the 5-tert-butylprolyl amide cis- and trans-isomers by two-dimensional NMR experiments in water indicated that the Cys(6)-Pro(7) peptide bond cis-isomer population was augmented relative to the prolyl peptides and measured respectively at 35%, 33%, and 20% in the 5-tert-butylproline(7) analogues of oxytocin, [Mpa(1)]oxytocin and [dPen(1)]oxytocin. Although caution must be taken when relating the increase in cis-isomer population with an influence on biological activity in [5-t-BuPro(7)]oxytocin analogues, the synthesis and evaluation of analogues 1-3 have provided additional evidence that can be used to support the hypothesis that the prolyl amide cis-isomer may favor antagonism and the trans-isomer is necessary for agonist activity.

An examination of the steric effects of 5-tert-butylproline on the conformation of polyproline and the cooperative nature of type II to type I helical interconversion.

The influence of steric effects on the helical geometry and the interconversion of type II to type I polyproline in water was examined by the synthesis and analysis of proline dimers and hexamers containing up to three (2S,5R)-5-tert-butylproline residues. In the dimers, the bulky 5-tert-butyl substituent was found to exert a significant influence on the local prolyl amide geometry such that the predominant trans-isomer in N-(acetyl)prolyl-prolinamide (1) was converted to 63% cis isomer in N-(acetyl)prolyl-5-tert-butylprolinamide (2) as measured by (1)H-nmr spectroscopy. Similarly, the presence of a 5-tert-butyl group on the C-terminal residue in the polyproline hexamer Ac-Pro(5)-t-BuPro-NH(2) (4) produced a local 5-tert-butylprolyl amide population containing 61% cis isomer in water. In spite of the presence of a local prolyl cis amide geometry, the downstream prolyl amides in 4 remained in the trans isomer as determined by NOESY spectroscopy. Conformational analysis by (13)C-nmr and CD spectroscopy indicated that Ac-Pro(6)-NH(2) (3) adopted the all-trans amide polyproline type II helix in water. As the amount of 5-tert-butylproline increased from one to three residues in hexamers 4-6, a gradual destabilization of the polyproline type II helical geometry was observed by CD spectroscopy in water; however, no spectrum was obtained, indicative of a complete conversion to a polyproline type I helix. The implications of these results are discussed with respect to the previously proposed theoretical mechanisms for the helical interconversion of polyproline, which has been suggested to occur by either a cooperative C- to N-terminal isomerization of the prolyl amide bonds or via a conformational intermediate composed of dispersed sequences of prolyl amide cis and trans isomers.