Solution conformations of the peptide backbone for DPDPE and its beta-MePhe4-substituted analogs.

The solution structures of DPDPE, a conformationally restricted pentapeptide with the sequence H-Tyr1-D-Pen2-Gly3-Phe4-D-Pen5-OH, and its four beta-MePhe4-substituted analogs were examined by a combined approach including the NMR measurements in DMSO and water as well as independent energy calculations. It was concluded that several low energy conformers of DPDPE backbone satisfy the NMR data obtained in this study as well as in previous studies by other authors. These possible solution conformers of DPDPE in both DMSO and water share virtually the same type of cyclic backbone structure, with the Gly3 residue in a conformation close to a gamma-turn, and the Phe4 residue in a conformation close to alpha-helical torsion angles. They differ in the space arrangements of the flexible Tyr1 moiety. The solution structures of the beta-MePhe4-substituted analogs of DPDPE are interesting. For analogs with an S-configuration at the C alpha atom in the Phe4 residue, the cyclic backbone conformations resemble those of DPDPE itself, whereas for analogs with an R-configuration at the C alpha atom, the backbone conformation is somewhat different. This observation is in line with the high biological potencies and selectivities displayed by the former compounds but not by the latter ones. It was noted also that as far as the peptide backbone conformers are concerned, some of the possible DPDPE conformers in water are similar to the previously suggested model for the delta-receptor-bound conformation of DPDPE, becoming virtually identical to this conformation by rotating the side chains of the Tyr1 and the Phe4 residues.

Topographical requirements for delta-selective opioid peptides.

The conformational possibilities of three different delta-selective opioid peptides, which are DPDPE (Tyr-D-Pen-Gly-Phe-D-Pen), DCFPE (Tyr-D-Cys-Phe-D-Pen), and DRE (Tyr-D-Met-Phe-His-Leu-Met-Asp-NH2, dermenkephalin), were explored using energy calculations. Sets of low-energy conformers were obtained for each of these peptides. The sets consisted of 61 structures for DPDPE, 32 for DCFPE, and 38 for DRE, including various types of rotamers of the Tyr and Phe side-chain groups. Comparison of the geometrical shapes of the conformers was performed for these sets using topographical considerations, i.e., examination of the mutual spatial arrangement of the N-terminal alpha-amino group, and of the Tyr and Phe side-chain groups. The results obtained suggest a model for the delta-receptor-bound conformer(s) for opioid peptides. The model suggests the placement of the Phe side chain in a definite position in space corresponding to the g- rotamer of Phe for peptides containing Phe4 and to the t rotamer for peptides containing Phe. The position of the Tyr1 side chain cannot be specified so precisely. The proposed model is in a good agreement with the results of biological testing of beta-Me-Phe4-substituted DPDPE analogues that were not considered in the process of model construction.

Topographically designed analogues of [D-Pen,D-Pen5]enkephalin.

The conformationally restricted, cyclic disulfide-containing delta opioid receptor selective enkephalin analogue [D-Pen2,D-Pen5]enkephalin (1, DPDPE) was systematically modified topographically by addition of a methyl group at either the pro-S or pro-R position of the beta carbon of an L-Phe4 or D-Phe4 residue to give [(2S,3S)-beta-MePhe4]DPDPE (2), [(2R,3R)-beta-MePhe4]DPDPE (3), [(2S,3R)-beta-MePhe4]DPDPE (4), and [(2R,3S)-beta-MePhe4]DPDPE (5). The four corresponding isomers were prepared in which the beta-methylphenylalanine residue was p-nitro substituted, that is with a beta-methyl-p-nitrophenylalanine (beta-Me-p-NO2Phe) residue, to give [(2S,3S)-beta-Me-p-NO2Phe4]DPDPE (6), [(2R,3R)-beta-Me-p-NO2Phe4]DPDPE (7), [(2S,3R)-beta-Me-p-NO2Phe4] DPDPE (8), and [(2R,3S)-beta-Me-p-NO2Phe4]DPDPE (9), respectively. The potency and selectivity (delta vs mu opioid receptor) were evaluated by radioreceptor binding assays in the rat brain using [3H]CTOP (mu ligand) and [3H]DPDPE (delta ligand) and by bioassay with mouse vas deferens (MVD, delta receptor assay) and guinea pig ileum (GPI, mu receptor assay). The eight analogues of DPDPE showed highly variable binding and bioassay activities particularly at the delta opioid receptor (4 orders of magnitude), but also at the mu opioid receptor, which led to large differences (3 orders of magnitude) in receptor selectivity. For example, [(2S,3S)-beta-MePhe4]DPDPE (2) is 1800-fold selective in binding to the delta vs mu receptor, making it one of the most selective delta opioid receptor ligands in the enkephalin series as assessed by the rat brain binding assay, whereas the corresponding (2R,3R)-beta-Me-p-NO2Phe-containing analogue 9 is only 4.5-fold selective (nonselective) in this same assay. On the other hand, in the bioassay systems, [(2S,3S)-beta-Me-p-NO2Phe4]DPDPE (5) is more potent than DPDPE and 8800-fold selective for the MVD (delta receptor) vs the GPI (mu receptor), making it the most highly selective ligand in this series for the delta opioid receptor on the basis of these bioassays. In these assay systems, the (2R,3S)-beta-MePhe4-containing analogue 5 had very weak potency and virtually no receptor selectivity (4.4-fold). These results demonstrate that topographical modification alone in a conformationally restricted peptide ligand can significantly modulate both potency and receptor selectivity of peptide ligands that have multiple sites of biological activity and suggest that this approach may have general application to peptide ligand design.

DPen2-[DPen5]enkephalin, a delta opioid receptor-selective analog of [Leu]enkephalin, impairs avoidance learning in an automated shelf-jump task in rats.

Both [Leu]enkephalin and DPen2-[DPen5]enkephalin, a delta opioid receptor selective analog of [Leu]enkephalin, impaired acquisition of an automated shelf-jump response in rats. A similar level of impairment was produced by equimolar doses of the two enkephalins. As is seen for [Leu]enkephalin when tested in a one-way active avoidance task, the dose-response function for the impairment produced by DPen2-[DPen5]enkephalin in the automated shelf-jump task is U-shaped. These results, together with our previous findings that DPen2-[DPen5]enkephalin and [Leu]enkephalin both impair acquisition of a one-way active avoidance response in mice, and that [Leu]enkephalin impairs acquisition of that same response in rats, support our suggestion that delta opioid receptors are implicated in the effects of [Leu]enkephalin on conditioning. In addition, these results indicate that the involvement of delta opioid receptors in acquisition impairment extends to two species of rodents and to two different avoidance conditioning tasks.

Antidiarrheal properties of supraspinal mu and delta and peripheral mu, delta and kappa opioid receptors: inhibition of diarrhea without constipation.

We evaluated the ability of mu [morphine, Tyr-Pro-N-MePhe-D-Pro-NH2 (PLO17)], delta (Tyr-D-Pen-Gly-Phe-D-Pen) (DPDPE) and kappa [U50,488H, (trans-3,4-dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyr-rolidinyl) cyclo-hexyl)benzeneacetamine)] opioid receptor selective agonists to inhibit diarrhea induced by castor oil (0.6 ml p.o.) in mice after supraspinal (i.c.v.) and peripheral (s.c.) administration. The antidiarrheal potency of each compound was compared to its analgesic and gastrointestinal antitransit potency when given by the same route of administration. When administered i.c.v., morphine, PLO17 and DPDPE inhibited diarrhea in a dose-related fashion. The mu agonists, morphine and PLO17, given i.c.v, inhibited diarrhea at doses much lower than those needed to produce analgesia or to inhibit gastrointestinal transit. DPDPE (i.c.v.) was equipotent in inhibiting diarrhea and in eliciting analgesia, but did not effect the rate of transit. U50,488H (i.c.v.) inhibited diarrhea only at extremely high doses which also caused profound postural-motor incapacitance. U50,488H given i.c.v. had no effect on transit at any dose. When given peripherally, morphine, PLO17, DPDPE and U50,488H all inhibited diarrhea in a dose-related fashion. All four compounds inhibited diarrhea at doses much below those needed to cause analgesia. Morphine s.c. and PLO17 s.c. both inhibited diarrhea at doses lower than those required to inhibit transit. DPDPE s.c. and U50,488H s.c. had no effect on transit at any dose. The antidiarrheal effects of i.c.v. morphine, i.c.v. PLO17 and i.c.v. DPDPE were antagonized by pretreatment with 1 microgram i.c.v. of naltrexone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)